Every garden enthusiast needs to know the best gardening tips for drought conditions, especially if you live in an already dry area. Even if you live in a zone that doesn’t typically experience a drought, you should know these tips in case of a dry spell. Any area is susceptible to a period of time with no rain. Be prepared by knowing the tips to keep your garden alive and thriving in drought conditions.

What is a drought, and when should I be concerned?

A drought is classified as a period of time with below-average precipitation that results in water supply shortages. The shortage can affect ground water or surface water {lakes, etc.} or both. Heat makes drought conditions worse by speeding up the rate at which the moisture that is present evaporates into the air.

Generally, today’s tv meteorologists are great about keeping their viewers informed. Anytime the weather has been unusually dry, or both dry and hot, is a time to worry about drought conditions and their effect on your garden. But the best thing to do is to spend time in your garden so that when drought conditions start to have a negative impact, you’ll see it and can take action.

Gardening tips for drought conditions

• If you know drought conditions are likely, plan ahead. It’s helpful to plant earlier in the spring and later in the fall to avoid the summer’s hottest heat.
• Mulch is one of the best ways to combat drought conditions! Did you know that a 4-inch layer of mulch can reduce your garden’s watering needs by about half? So get some good mulch, and don’t skimp on it. Use it as soon as you plant to protect tender young plants from drought conditions.
• If you experience drought conditions in your area, try gardening in raised garden beds instead of right in the ground. A raised garden bed retains a lot more soil moisture than the open ground does.
• Never water during the middle of the day! All you’re doing is watering the air, because heat robs most of the moisture before it can penetrate to the roots of your plants. The best times to water during drought conditions, or in an arid zone, is late evening or very early morning. If you have a sprinkler system, set it for the early morning hours when evaporation is much less likely.
• Drip irrigation is the most effective form of watering during drought conditions. Drip systems deposit water right at the roots of the plants, giving more water the chance to feed your plants without evaporation.
• Weed more! No one likes to hear this, but controlling weeds is essential during a drought. Weeds do nothing but steal water and nutrients from your garden.
• Look for drought resistant plants and crops. These include things like desert grasses, asparagus, peppers, Roma tomatoes and strawberry varieties native to California. For more ideas see 20 Plants That Almost Grow Without Water.

For more gardening tips for drought conditions see USU Extension.