10 Proven Tactics to Conserve Water During Drought Conditions

Gardening Through Severe Drought

As persistent drought grips much of the Intermountain West, gardeners face another challenging growing season. Many communities have implemented voluntary or mandatory water restrictions, and reservoirs remain critically low. Whether facing limited watering days or complete lawn-watering bans, these water-saving practices help maintain existing plants.

1. Assess Your Priorities

Survey your landscape: which areas or plants are most important to save? Don't waste water on scraggly or diseased plants. Prioritize established trees and shrubs—they're virtually irreplaceable—followed by perennials.

2. Identify Root Zones

Roots grow at different depths. Apply just enough water to moisten the root zone without excess. Most tree roots lie in the top 2 feet of soil. The drip line (perimeter of the canopy) outlines the root zone on the ground; focus irrigation there.

3. Check Soil Moisture

Dig down at least 12 inches and squeeze a handful of soil—moist soil holds together in a ball. For precision, use a soil sampling tube to extract a core showing moisture levels at various depths. Tube samplers are available from Forestry Suppliers.

4. Build Watering Basins

Mound soil berms around young trees and shrubs to concentrate water on root zones. Form the main berm just outside the drip line and a second berm 4-6 inches from the trunk. Use a soft spray head or watering wand with an on-off valve rather than a bare hose end. Apply water directly to soil or mulch, not foliage.

5. Irrigate Slowly and Deeply

Slow soaking limits runoff and encourages deep root systems that better tolerate drought. Water in early morning or evening to minimize evaporation.

6. Modify Lawn Care

If restrictions allow lawn irrigation, mow higher (2-3 inches for bluegrass, 2.5-3 inches for tall fescue) to shade roots. Avoid overfertilizing—excess nitrogen encourages thirsty growth. Some gardeners apply just 1 inch of water every two weeks; lawns turn straw-colored and semi-dormant but recover in fall.

7. Apply Mulch

Spread a 2- to 4-inch layer of organic mulch (shredded bark, straw, weed-free hay) over root zones of permanent plants. Mulch trees to the drip line but keep it 6 inches from trunks to prevent rot. Mulch also suppresses weeds that compete for water and nutrients.