How to use water wisely for food gardens during drought

How communities are changing food-garden water use as drought tightens rules

A few raindrops fell as Heather Grady transplanted beet seedlings, but the sky did not provide enough moisture to ease worries about a dry winter and low reservoirs in Colorado. With much of the state in drought, Grady and her husband Terrance began discussing how to conserve more water in their backyard vegetable garden, framing it as a responsibility they were taking on even though they did not cause the drought. “We feel personally responsible, even though it’s not a problem we created,” Grady said.

The broader context for backyard conservation is a winter of record-low snowfall across much of the U.S. West, which leaves less snowmelt to refill rivers and lakes that supply the region’s water. In response, cities have rolled out outdoor watering restrictions, including Denver Water, which announced drought restrictions on March 25, the earliest in its history, according to the reporting.

The restrictions have already changed how households think about what is allowed in their yards. Watering a food garden is still typically allowed under these rules within parameters, the reporting said, and cities including Salt Lake City have urged voluntary cutbacks while also mandating reductions for some government offices. The story said Salt Lake City’s approach included both encouragement and rules for certain uses, while other cities such as Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Albuquerque have year-round seasonal watering rules.

Experts and organizers emphasized that even when restrictions are not directly applicable, gardeners can make water-wise choices in how they start gardens, what they plant, and how they manage soil and irrigation. One recurring theme was that reducing waste often involves using water more deliberately—capturing extra sources when possible, keeping soil healthier so it retains moisture, and delivering irrigation in ways that keep water close to plant roots.

Start with what water you have, then match plants to it

Greg Peterson, who runs The Urban Farm educational website, urged gardeners to take stock of the water sources available, including less-obvious options beyond tap water. He described ways to harvest rain in barrels, collect water from rinsing vegetables, and capture condensation—recommending that people place a bucket under outdoor air-conditioner drainpipes to collect condensation.

Peterson and others also pointed to using greywater in ways that feed gardens rather than sending usable water away. Don Titmus, co-educator for an Arizona desert food garden and pollinator oasis, described ways he uses greywater at his home in Mesa, including showering outside so the water runs off toward plants and washing dishes in basins with non-toxic soaps so the water can be used in the garden.

When it does rain, capturing and storing it was described as a priority because it can replace purchased water later. Jamiah Hargins, founder and executive director of the nonprofit Crop Swap LA, which grows food on unused land around Los Angeles, said rainwater can improve plant performance. “Rainwater has more oxygen than (tap water)” Hargins said. “It actually makes the roots happier and the plants grow much better.”

Selecting plant varieties suited to local conditions was also framed as one of the easiest ways to cut water use. Noelle Johnson, author of “The Water-Smart Garden,” said gardeners can look at hybrids bred to use less water or choose heirlooms native to their region.

Feed the soil to need less water later

While some gardeners focus first on irrigation schedules, the reporting also highlighted soil as a way to make gardens more water efficient. Peterson said healthy soil has five components—dirt, air within, organic matter, water and biological life—and that healthy soil needs less fertilizer and less water than unhealthy soil.

For gardeners deciding how to improve their ground, Josie Hart, associate director of sustainable agriculture at Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms, said soil tests can show whether a gardener is deficient in key nutrients. The story said gardeners can typically send soil samples for testing at local public universities or private labs.

To prepare soil the first time, Titmus recommended breaking up hard dirt and layering in compost or leaves to create a fluffy texture, while also describing how later years can focus on adding compost on top and letting worms move nutrients through the soil. The story also returned repeatedly to mulch, described as essential for keeping water in and weeds out, while also warning that wood mulch can poach nutrients from vegetables.

Protect plants from sun and wind to reduce evaporation

Beyond soil, experts said the environment around plants drives how quickly gardens dry out. Hart said sun and wind are primary factors that dry a garden and that planting near a fence, tree or shed can help shield plants.

The story also described shade cloths as an option for hot, sunny climates, saying they can filter about half the sunlight and can be strung on hooks, draped over hoops, or set above plants. Johnson, who gardens in Arizona, said intensive vegetable planting—placing plants closer together in a staggered pattern—can help by using leaves from maturing plants to provide shade and reduce evaporation.

Johnson also recommended planting directly in the earth rather than focusing on raised beds, which she said are more exposed to the elements. For arid climates, Hart described creating a waffle bed, an approach used by Indigenous farmers that uses small rows of raised soil in a grid pattern around plants. “Creating a waffle bed is going to capture any moisture you have going and it will keep it there,” Hart said.

Water deeply and less often with systems that reach roots

Experts agreed that how water is applied matters as much as how much is used. The reporting said irrigation setups should slowly put water directly into soil, naming soaker lines, drip systems and drip tape as options, and warning that anything that sprays loses water to the air.

The story also addressed a common misconception: that frequent watering helps plants. Hart said gardens in hot, dry climates may think frequent watering keeps plants healthy, but it can keep roots shallow. In her advice, drip systems should water deeply enough to teach roots to grow where moisture is stored, then pause to encourage deeper rooting.

In Denver, the Grady household planned to adjust its own routine in response to the drought. The reporting said they planned to try deep watering three days a week instead of short daily spurts. “It’s a huge change,” Grady said.