1. Group plants
according to water need. Highly drought-tolerant plants can go in
one spot; moderate-water plants in another. High-water use plants go
in another -- preferably close to the house so they're easier to get to
with a hose.
2. Minimize
lawn. Just as an SUV is a gas guzzler, turf is a water guzzler,
requiring at least an inch of water every week. Use it as an
accessory in your garden, something to set off beds and borders filled
with low-maintenance small trees and shrubs and perennials -- not as the
focal point. Bonus: You'll cut mowing and fall leaf raking time
considerably.
3. Mulch
lavishly. Make sure annuals, perennials, trees, and shrubs all have
1 to 3 inches of a mulch such as wood chips or pine needles. It
keeps the soil cooler and conserves moisture.
4. Know your soil
and plant accordingly. In the most of the Midwest, East Coast, and
much of the South, improving soil with ample amounts of compost is the
best way to go. Compost loosens clay soils and makes sandy soils
more fertile and moist. Spread 6 inches of compost onto the top of
the soil before digging a new bed. Otherwise, apply 1 to 2 inches of
compost to the top of the soil in beds, borders, and vegetable gardens
every year. It's the best investment you can make. In the
West, however, "improve" soil with caution. Many
drought-tolerant plants actually thrive in poor, lean, rocky soils and
making the soil too rich or moisture-retentive can create disease and pest
problems. They might even just plain rot.
