You may have experienced good summer rains, or may have been concerned by the shortfall in expected precipitation. But no matter where you live, it is important to think about catching and storing water in your garden. Before drier weather arrives, it is a good idea to consider steps that you can take right now to manage water wisely in your garden. 

Catching and storing water in your garden involves thinking carefully about how and where you can collect rainwater and slow its flow from your property. And it also means considering how you can direct that natural rainfall wisely within your space. 

Catching Rainwater from Roofs & Driveways

One of the first things to think about is how you might be able to catch rain which falls on roofs and  paved or asphalted areas. Water which falls and runs off such surfaces can and should be collected.

Adding gutters where these do not currently exist is the first step. Remember that you can potentially collect rainfall not only from the roof of your home, but also any sheds, garages, greenhouses etc..

Looking at any paved or asphalted areas on your property, you should be able to detect the direction of flow. You might stop runoff before it leaves your site, and direct it wisely. 

Storing Water – Keeping Water Around on Your Property

Storing water and keeping it around on your property might be as simple as installing water butts, barrels, tanks or other containers. These can be connected to guttering, to collect the water which falls on a roof. 

Make sure, when installing these, that you have determined what capacity you need to cope with the level of rainfall where you live. (Multiply roof area by mm per annum to determine how many litres of water you should expect to store each year.)

Remember, however, that storing water in containers is not the only option. In certain cases, you might consider creating ponds, or other in-ground reservoirs to keep water on your site. 

A pond won't just help you store water, it might also bring a range of other benefits. For example, it might increase resilience to issues like wildfire. It could also entice a range of beneficial wildlife to your garden, to help with food-growing issues like pollination and pest control. 

Catching & Storing Rainwater in the Landscape (In Soil & Plants)

You should also consider the opportunity to catch and retain water not only in containers or water features like ponds but also in the landscape. 

Catching more water in soil and plants involves thinking about the terrain, the soil, and the plant choices. Of course, your approach must be tailored to your specific site.

However, it might include:

• Creating earthworks like on-contour swales, or terracing steeper slopes to slow water flow.
• Adding organic matter to improve the water retention of soils (while also ensuring adequate drainage). 
• Using mulches and ground covers to reduce moisture loss from the soil. 
• Providing shade where necessary to protect soil and plants from hot sun. 
• Selecting appropriate, often native, plants best suited to conditions in your area – often replacing water-guzzling lawns with more natural and biodiverse planting schemes. 

Creating a resilient and sustainable garden means thinking about catching and storing water in a range of different ways. So if you have not yet thought much about this issue – now is a good time to begin.