Plant appropriate plants. There is a wide variety of plants which thrive on very little water. David Glenn, from Lambley Nursery in Victoria is an advocate for planting plants that come from the hot and dry places of the world. He recommends a wide range of plants including salvias, euphorbias, asters, agastaches, lilies, bulbs, and crabapples, among others. To find out more, type 'Dry Climate Gardening' into your search engine, or go to the www.lambley.com.au.

Water in the early morning, or evening. If you must use sprayers or hand held hoses, water early in the morning or in the cool of the evening. That way, the soil and plant can make use of more of the water, and it is less likely to be windy (which could blow a lot of water away). It is also more pleasant for the person doing the watering!

Add water crystals to all plantings. Add dry water crystals to the hole when you plant each plant, no matter when you plant it. Also spread some around the base of the plant. These will absorb water when it is given, and will slowly release it as the soil dries out. They are also handy to provide a 'dam' to prevent run off from existing watering systems.

Happy gardening.
Kathy