Ten Top Tips on how to conserve water in the organic garden

Mulch the soil surface to help reduce moisture loss and suppress weeds.  Materials such as leafmould, grass clippings, sheets of newspaper, straw, or composted bark chippings are all suitable.  Apply when the soil is moist and has warmed up and the plants are established.

Remove weeds and hoe regularly. Weeds grow strongly and will be  in competition for water resources with the plants you are growing.

Protect plants from drying winds with a temporary Windbreak. This will reduce water loss.

Don’t dig the ground in periods of drought. Digging increases water loss from the soil.

Increase the water-holding capacity of the soil, by adding organic matter such as compost and  leafmould. A soil rich in organic matter will also be better able to absorb rain in dry conditions.

Water early morning or late afternoon to will reduce wastage of  water through evaporation.

Apply water directly to the soil, not plants.

Set up as many water butts as you can to collect as much rainwater as possible. 

Only water plants at critical periods in their growth.

Soak the soil really  well if you are watering. Check that the water has penetrated down into the soil, not just the surface layers.