How to drought proof your garden

We understand how much of an effect the drought is having on the Tamworth and surrounding regions for our farmers, businesses and general community. And without any promising signs of drought breaking rains being forecast, we are all focused on being water wise to be able to conserve our town's precious water supply.

So for home owners who have spent their time perfecting their gardens and lawns, this can be a testing time for them to try and keep things alive and well.

Below we have a great list of tips to help keep your garden drought proof:

1. Improve your soil structure by adding bulk quantities of organics. Things like compost and aged manure are a great way to keep your soil alive and happy. Even without a lot of water, compost and aged manure will keep your soil working longer.
2. Improve air and water penetration by working your soil with a fork or digging it over. By improving the air and water penetration you are making sure that you can get the most benefit with the least amount of water!
3. Mulch to a depth of 10cm with organic mulch to minimize water loss and to keep the soil cool. Mulch is great to keep moisture in your soil and by adding a big layer of mulch to your soil you are retaining the water, which keeps your soil cooler, and this improves growth. Which is a win-win!
4. Stop fertisiling your plants at the onset of drought. Fertilising your plants is usually a really good idea. However, fertilsation encourages plant growth. This of course means that your plants require more water.
5. Weed your gardens. Weeds are technically other plants. By weeding your gardens, you are removing other plants from your garden that are taking up that much needed water. So, remove the weeds if you are looking to keep your garden as green as possible during a drought.
6. Deadhead your flowers. Deadheading your flowers helps reduce the energy needed to produce seeds. This means that you need less water, and this discourages plant growth.
7. Plant self-sufficient species. A lot of species that people like to grow are not self-sufficient - plants that need more water to grow and aren’t local! This causes issues because those plants are taking water off other, native plants. Planting natives and self-sufficient species helps to reduce the water you need.
8. Slow Release Watering: A plastic bottle filled with water then turned upside down and pushed, opening first, into the soil, will slowly release water into the soil as air escapes from the bottle. It is a great tip if you are away for a weekend or for some of your potted plants.

NB: To stay up to date with the water restrictions in your region, please visit your local council’s website or call them. You can be fined for water misuse and we encourage all home owners to be mindful of the drought conditions when landscaping their new or existing homes.

Hopefully, these tips will help you make your garden drought proof!

We love helping people find the perfect way to build their home, so if you’re looking for inspiration, you can always visit our display homes or follow us on Pinterest.