How to Prepare Your Garden for a Drought
Riding off the back of a confusing 3 year La Nina weather cycle, it has been predicted that El Nino is on its way. The unpredictable climate of the Blue Mountains throughout they year is challenging enough but periodic droughts can make things worse. To ensure your garden thrives through dry spells, I’ve compiled essential tips and techniques to help you prepare your growing space for a drought.
Choose Drought-Tolerant Plants
When selecting plants for your garden, prioritise drought-tolerant varieties. Look for species adapted to local conditions or those specifically bred for drought resistance. These resilient plants will thrive even during water shortages. Heres a few of my recommendations for edible drought resistant plants. Recipes for these plants cna be found in my recently released ebook.
Rosemary: This aromatic herb is incredibly drought-resistant and adds fantastic flavor to a variety of dishes.
Thyme: Thyme is a hardy herb that can withstand dry conditions and is a popular choice for seasoning in both savory and sweet dishes.
Lavender: Lavender not only adds a lovely fragrance to your garden, its food for the bees and is also a versatile herb used in culinary applications, such as teas, desserts, and savoury dishes.
Oregano: Oregano is a creeping herb that tolerates drought well, covers the ground to prevent erosion and is a staple in Mediterranean cuisine.
Sage: Sage is a drought-tolerant herb that provides a robust, earthy flavour to dishes, especially with poultry and stuffing. It also ads fantastic colour!
Chives: These onion-flavoured herbs can thrive in dry conditions, making them a perfect garnish for various dishes.
Home Herb Harvest
With a selection of hardy herbs suited to most climates this book dives into the details on where, how and when to plant each herb and how to cook with them!
Improve The Soils Water Holding Capacity:
Healthy soil is your garden's foundation. Improving the soil's water-holding capacity is essential, especially in regions prone to drought like the Blue Mountains. Several factors, including microbes, soil humates, and organic matter, play vital roles in enhancing the soil's ability to retain moisture.
Microbes: including bacteria and fungi, are essential for healthy soil and play a significant role in improving water retention. Here's how they contribute:
Decomposition of Organic Matter: Microbes break down organic matter, such as dead plant material and compost, into humus. This humus acts like a sponge, holding water in the soil.
Enhanced Soil Structure: Microbes produce substances that help bind soil particles together, creating larger aggregates. These aggregates create pore spaces in the soil, allowing water to infiltrate and be stored.
Nutrient Cycling: Microbes facilitate the cycling of nutrients in the soil, which helps plants access essential nutrients. Healthy plants are better able to utilize available water efficiently.
Soil Humates: are a complex mixture of humic and fulvic acids formed during the decomposition of organic matter. They are rich in carbon and contribute to improved water-holding capacity in several ways:
Increased Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC): Humates have a high CEC, meaning they can hold onto and release nutrients, including water, to plant roots as needed.
Enhanced Soil Structure: Humates help create stable soil aggregates, improving soil structure and reducing compaction. This allows for better water infiltration and storage.
Reduced Evaporation: A layer of humates on the soil's surface can act as a barrier, reducing water loss due to evaporation.
Binding Heavy Metals: Humates can bind heavy metals in the soil, preventing them from leaching into groundwater and potentially harming plants.
Organic Matter:
Organic matter is a critical component of soil that greatly influences its water-holding capacity. How does organic matter contribute?:
Increased Water Retention: Organic matter, such as compost, or well-rotted manure, acts like a sponge, holding water in the soil. It can significantly increase the soil's capacity to retain moisture.
Improved Soil Structure: Organic matter promotes the formation of stable soil aggregates, which create pore spaces for water storage.
Microbial Activity: Organic matter provides a food source for beneficial soil microbes. As microbes break down organic matter, they release substances that enhance soil structure and moisture retention.
Reduced Soil Erosion: Organic matter helps prevent soil erosion, which can occur during heavy rainfall and contribute to moisture loss.
You can make your own compost!
Check out my recent Making Hot Compost blog !
Mulching - Mulch EVERYTHING:
Mulch is a gardener's best friend, well its mine anyway, especially in dry climates like the Blue Mountains. Apply a layer of organic mulch (pea straw, lucerne or sugarcane) or woodchip around your garden beds and plants to:
Keep Soil Cool and Moist: Mulch prevents rapid soil moisture evaporation.
Suppress Weeds: It blocks sunlight, reducing weed competition.
Provide habitat and food for soil life. Worms love mulch, and worm manure is gold for your garden!
For vegetable garden beds I usually use a fine mulch but for any fruit trees, paths or areas that I want to prevent weeds, I use (free) wood chip.
Water Strategically
To conserve water while keeping your garden thriving:
Water Deeply and Less Often: Deep watering encourages deep root growth allowing plants to tap into soil that is lower and less prone to drying out.
Group Plants by Water Needs: Efficiently manage water distribution by planting species together. Plants that are i the ground will dry out less than plants in pots or raised garden beds however, water can drain quicker from the soil without you knowing when in ground.
Consider Drip Irrigation: Install a drip irrigation system for precise watering, minimising waste and minimise evaporation from misting.
I hope these points helped!
If you would like to see how I am preparing my organic market gardens for drought join in on an upcoming workshop for hands-on learning. We'll cover essential topics to help you create a thriving garden, even in challenging conditions:
Selecting the Right Plants for Your Garden
Soil Improvement Techniques
Mulching Strategies
Efficient Watering Practices
Pest and Disease Management
Harvesting Tips
Your garden deserves the best care, and we're here to help you make it thrive, no matter what nature throws your way. Thank you for reading, and we look forward to seeing you at the workshop!
