We all know how important it is to save water, but think how much easier it would be if you could force your soil to save water too. The more waterwise your soil, the longer it will retain water and the less often you’ll have to turn on the sprinklers.

Here are some pointers to help you make your soil more efficient with water :

• In sandy soil, the spaces between the soil particles are very large and water passes through too quickly. Add a generous amount of compost to help your soil to retain water better.
• In clay soil, the spaces between soil particles are very small, which means that water cannot pass through and tends to form a puddle on top instead of reaching the roots below. Break up clay soil by adding compost and river sand to your garden beds.
• Silty soils tend to form a crust on top of the soil, which prevents the water from flowing through. You can improve the soil structure by digging it up and adding a bag or two of compost.
• Cover your soil with a 5cm layer of organic mulch like bark chips, nut shells, straw or pine needles. The mulch keeps the soil cool and helps to prevent water loss due to evaporation.
• Water-retaining granules and gels absorb and store water in the soil for future use. Try Saturaid or Aquasoil. They should be replaced every two years.
• Dig troughs around thirsty plants such as roses to prevent water from running off when you water the plants. You can also dig canals to channel water that runs off of paving or driveways into garden beds.