In the garden

There are 5 basic methods for reducing the amount of water needed in your garden:

1. Improve soil's water-retentive properties

• A blocky' soil structure gives a good rate of infiltration and allows healthy root development.
• Adding organic matter to the soil improves structure, helps to hold moisture and provides nutrients for plants.  Compost kitchen and garden waste and dig the compost into borders and beds.
• Mix in a commercial water-retaining gel, this is particularly useful in containers and in light, free-draining soils.

2. Increase infiltration with earthworks

• Plant in shallow pits or make a small dam on the downhill side of plants.  This will retain water around the plant and give it longer to infiltrate the soil.
• If the site slopes steeply, consider constructing terraces to reduce runoff.  This is also a good way of breaking the garden into different areas.

3. Reduce water loss from soil surface

• Mulching greatly reduces the rate of evaporation from the soil's surface.  Use a 2" layer of organic mulch (e.g. bark) to help hold in moisture.
• TOP TIP: Lay comfrey leaves around plants as mulch.  Not only will they reduce evaporation from the soil, but they also act as a decoy for slugs - they love them!  (Strangely, comfrey doesn't work on slugs after June.)
• Deep cultivation encourages deep roots, which make plants less reliant on artificial watering.
• A permeable membrane will allow water through to the soil but slow the rate evaporation.  It also suppresses weeds.  Cut holes in it for planting and cover with a decorative mulch.

4. Other water sources

• Plants prefer rainwater to tap water, so the more rainwater you can store in your garden the better.  Water butts are easy to fit to downpipes and can be used to collect water from any sloping roof - house, shed, greenhouse.
• If you have a pond, use rainwater to top it up during hot dry spells.  The chlorine or chloramine in tap water isn't good for fish and other pond life.
• Washing up water can be used on the garden quite safely providing you use an eco-friendly product.  Alternate between this 'grey' water and clean water, e.g. rainwater, for watering.

5. Target water accurately and efficiently

• Save time and effort as well as water.  Water thoroughly and occasionally, rather than little and often, giving the soil around the plants a good soaking to make sure it reaches the roots at depth and prevents the development of shallow root systems.
• Don't follow a fixed watering schedule, water only when it is needed. Over-watering can wash nutrients out of the soil.
• Use a watering can instead of a hose to water your plants - it's more accurate, placing the water where it does most good.
• Direct water at the roots, not over the leaves.
• Group thirsty plants together to reduce the effort of watering during dry spells.
• Some tubs come with water gauges, or you can get gauges as an add-on kit, so you'll know exactly which plants need watering.
• Plants that look like they need watering may be suffering from lack of nutrients, or they could be in the wrong type of soil.
• Keep on top of the weeding.  Weeds use water meant for your plants.

Water efficient lawns

Use a longer cut setting when mowing the lawn and try to cut it less often to reduce its need for water.

Using a sprinkler not only wastes water but encourages shallow root growth, which leaves the grass reliant on artificial watering.  If you have to use a sprinkler (e.g. when seeding a lawn) use one with a timer switch and don't use it during windy weather as the water will evaporate much quicker.

Consider having a 'mixed' lawn.  Instead of fighting the 'weeds' allow plants such as clover to grow with the grass, they stay green longer during dry spells and the flowers encourage pollinating insects.

You could even replace your grass lawn completely with plants such as creeping thyme or lawn chamomile.  Thyme is tougher, ideal for an area that will get a lot of use.  Both plants smell lovely when walked on.

• Use a longer cut setting when mowing the lawn and try to cut it less often to reduce its need for water.
  
• Using a sprinkler not only wastes water but encourages shallow root growth, which leaves the grass reliant on artificial watering.  If you have to use a sprinkler (e.g. when seeding a lawn) use one with a timer switch and don't use it during windy weather as the water will evaporate much quicker.
  
• Consider having a 'mixed' lawn.  Instead of fighting the 'weeds' allow plants such as clover to grow with the grass, they stay green longer during dry spells and the flowers encourage pollinating insects.
  
• You could even replace your grass lawn completely with plants such as creeping thyme or lawn chamomile.  Thyme is tougher, ideal for an area that will get a lot of use.  Both plants smell lovely when walked on.

Plants

There are a wide variety of plants that are happy in drier conditions (although it is important to prepare the ground and water plants well until they are established).  Look out for these telltale signs to help you identify them at the garden centre:

• Hairy leaves (e.g. sage) reduce evaporation due to air movement
• Very small leaves (e.g. *lavender) reduce the surface area of the leaf
• Waxy leaves (e.g. holly) reduce the amount of water lost from the leaf surface
• Fat leaves (e.g. seagrass) store water for use during dry spells

Of course, not all plants that are tolerant of dry conditions display any of the above characteristics, but it's a good guide if you're unsure. You could try some of the plants from this list to get you started.

Plants

Allium - Onion family 
Alyssum - Alyssum 
Erysimum - *Wallflower
Geranium - Geranium
Helianthemum - Rock Rose
Iberis - Candytuft
Lonicera - Honeysuckle
Nepeta - Catmint
Papaver - Poppy 
Rosa spinossima - Scotch Rose
Sedum  - *Ice Plant / Stonecrop
Stachys - Betony
Thymus  -*Thyme

Shrubs

Buxus - Box
Cytisus - Broom
Genista - Gorse

Trees

Betula - Birch
Pinus - Pine

*These plants are good sources of nectar and are particularly good for attracting butterflies to your garden.

Help to keep your plants healthy, and reduce your chemical use in the garden by growing plants with flat open flowers that attract predator species like the hoverfly or ladybird – they love to eat aphids.