In places like Australia, it isn’t uncommon to experience long stretches of drought-like conditions. If you are trying to plan a backyard down here that will be great regardless of how often it rains, you are going to need to plan carefully, because everything from your plants to your fencing can make a difference. The following is a look at some of the big things to consider when planning your backyard to be drought resistant.
Choose your plants carefully
The plants you choose for your backyard and garden will make a big difference to how much water you will need for them to thrive, so if you want your plants to look good and be healthy even in drought-like conditions, make sure they are the type that will only require minimal watering. Choosing native plants is generally the best way to go, as they will be accustomed to growing in these conditions, no matter how drought-like they are.
Use rain barrels
If it doesn’t rain very often where you live, you can make your place a lot more drought proof by making the most of any rain you get, and this is as easy as having a rain barrel or two installed. This will help minimise the amount of water you need to have trucked or pumped in, and can mean you have a supply of water kept handy for during those drier months, when rain is a far more rare occurrence and water is harder to come by.
Create some shade
If your place is located somewhere that regularly experiences drought-like conditions, to be able to make use of your yard on those scorching hot days you might need to introduce some shade. A nice, tall fence can make a big difference, as can having a pergola or awning built. Whatever you do, make a point of providing a little more respite from the sun, because even if your plants survive the drought-like conditions, without enough shade you may not.
Increase water retention
You can make your backyard far more drought resistant by boosting its ability to retain water in the soil. One of the best ways to do this is by adding manure, mulch or compost to your soil, and as much as possible, avoid leaving bare soil exposed to the sun.
Apart from being bad for the environment, fertilisers and pesticides are also bad for water usage, because they absorb water in the soil. If you want to create a backyard that is a little more drought resistant, going organic will lessen the amount of water your yard needs to thrive.
Use stones rather than grass
Keeping a lawn looking good can take a huge amount of water, and so if you want to set up your yard to survive even drought-like conditions, you are best to replace grass with ornamental stones wherever you can, as this will drastically reduce your need for water, while also introducing some modern style.