A guide to gardening without water, during a drought

The document outlines a sustainable approach to gardening that minimizes water use by focusing on strategic planning, plant selection, and soil management. It emphasizes the use of native and drought-resistant species, such as cacti, succulents, and coneflowers, and recommends using compost and mulch to retain moisture and regulate soil temperature. The guide argues that this method reduces costs, time, and effort while mitigating the stress on plants and the environment caused by climate-change-induced droughts.

• Successful waterless gardening requires strategic planning regarding the timing of planting and the selection of specific plant types. Planting during a wetter season is recommended to assist plants as they first take root.
• The most effective plant choices for low-water gardens are native plants, which are already acclimated to the local environment, and drought-resistant species such as succulents, cacti, and coneflowers.
• Soil management is critical for water conservation; compost is highlighted for its water retention abilities, while mulching is used to keep weeds away and regulate temperature.
• Adopting low-water gardening provides economic and practical benefits, including reduced time and effort, and lower costs. The University of California notes that an average garden requires approximately 20 gallons of water per week, a figure that increases during summer heat.
• Climate change is making droughts more pervasive, and plants that require high water levels are more susceptible to stress and increased pest activity during these periods.

APA

Skiver, R. (2022). A guide to gardening without water, during a drought. World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/stories/climate-action/a-guide-to-gardening-without-water-during-a-drought/

Chicago

Skiver, Rayna. A guide to gardening without water, during a drought. World Economic Forum, 2022. https://www.weforum.org/stories/climate-action/a-guide-to-gardening-without-water-during-a-drought/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Skiver |first1=Rayna |title=A guide to gardening without water, during a drought |publisher=World Economic Forum |date=1 November 2022 |url=https://www.weforum.org/stories/climate-action/a-guide-to-gardening-without-water-during-a-drought/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{skiver2022guide, author = {Skiver, Rayna}, title = {{A guide to gardening without water, during a drought}}, institution = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2022}, month = nov, url = {https://www.weforum.org/stories/climate-action/a-guide-to-gardening-without-water-during-a-drought/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }