Angie Thomas, Horticulture Consultant to Yates, has pulled together her tips for looking after your garden during very dry weather.

“There are many practical steps you can take around the garden to help plants survive on minimal water” said Angie Thomas, horticulture consultant to Yates.

Use mulch: Apply a generous layer of mulch over any garden beds, veggie patches and pots. This will help to reduce the amount of moisture that is lost from the soil or potting mix.

Soil wetting agents: Ensure you use a soil wetting agent to help to break down the waxy, water repellent layer that can develop on soil and potting mix. This helps make the most of any rain or irrigation by enabling water to penetrate the soil evenly and effectively.

Organic matter: Soil that contains a lot of organic matter can hold more moisture. Regularly mix concentrated sources of organic matter into your soil, such as compost and organic soil improvers.

Early morning water: It’s best to water in the cool of the early morning, which helps hydrate and prepare plants for the heat of the day and when evaporation is low.

Polymer film: During a drought, apply a specialised polymer film over the leaves of any sensitive plants in your garden. This will help to reduce moisture loss from leaves.

Utilise your shower: Instead of letting the cool water from your shower run down the drain while you wait for it to get hot, try placing a bucket underneath the water stream to catch it. You can then re-use this water for your garden.