While some parts of the United States are naturally at higher risk of droughts, no state is completely immune to the potential for a water shortage. Droughts can affect many aspects of day-to-day life, but they take an especially hard toll on plants and crops. As America’s largest rural lifestyle retailer, Tractor Supply is here to help when preparing for drought conditions, offering watering and irrigation products from top brands. Learn more about drought solutions and water conservation techniques for landscaping and gardening.
How to Prepare Your Land for a Drought
There are many simple yet effective changes you can implement around your property to help conserve water. Here are a few of Tractor Supply’s best tips for drought-tolerant landscaping:
Collect rainwater on your property whenever possible.
Storing extra water throughout the year can make all the difference in drought conditions. Not only can stored water be used for irrigation and other tasks, but it can also cut your water costs, especially if you need water deliveries. Tractor Supply has water-collecting products in our inventory, including:
- Water storage tanks: These larger solutions are designed to store water in an above-ground, potable or underground configuration. Water storage tanks usually connect to water filtration devices, so collected water is cleaned and usable for multiple purposes. For instance, stored water can be utilized during irrigation, for fire suppression, as livestock drinking water or for sanitation. Water tanks are usually found on larger properties and serve as a place to empty and store water from multiple rain barrels.
- Rain barrels: Rain barrels exist not only to collect fresh rainwater from the clouds above but also water running off gutters, roofs or similar structures. A rain barrel or two might be a sufficient backup water supply for the average gardener, but those with larger gardens or small farms should invest in several rain barrels, in addition to a larger water storage tank.
Utilize drip irrigation systems and manage watering times.
Your irrigation methods matter when it comes to conserving water – during droughts and normal weather spells alike. Tractor Supply can help you find the right products to manage your irrigation systems and monitor water usage, such as:
- Drip irrigation: These micro-irrigation systems utilize a low volume of low-pressure water to efficiently hydrate plants. Drip irrigation systems have thin tubing and pipes with drippers, delivering water to desired soil surfaces or plant roots directly. Drip irrigation is known to minimize water contact with fruit, vegetables, leaves or stems, directing water where it actually should go, as well as reducing runoff and evaporation. It also keeps water from percolating too deep into the soil or rerouting due to high winds.
- Lawn timers: These devices connect to your irrigation or sprinkler system. They automate how long an area is watered, helping to reduce overwatering and conserve water.
- Rain gauges: These tools measure rainfall levels so you can monitor weather trends and know when to adjust processes during a drought.
Do you need a generator for your watering systems?
Droughts can sometimes be accompanied by extreme heat, which is known to cause brownouts and blackouts. Keep your garden or farm’s essential systems running, such as irrigation tools and lawn timers, with the assistance of a generator. Tractor Supply’s selection of whole house generators, portable generators and inverter generators come in various power sources to suit your needs. Learn more about generators by reading Tractor Supply’s generator FAQs.
Build healthy soil with mulch and compost.
Quality soil plays a key role in retaining moisture during dry conditions. Soil consists of decomposed leaves, twigs and other organic materials. Adding compost or mulch can make your soil healthy and attractive to organisms contributing to the ecosystem, like insects, earthworms and fungi. To give your plants or crops the best possible growing environment, Tractor Supply recommends the following:
- Chop-and-drop mulching: As the name suggests, certain types of vegetation can be chopped up and used as mulch to enrich your soil. Planting green mulch plants, such as rhubarb, nasturtium and comfrey, can help to build ideal soil conditions, as well as suppress troublesome weeds. Larger gardens and small farms may benefit from cover crops like vetches, rye and clovers.
- Sheet mulching: To suppress weeds and keep them from competing with plants for water, sheet mulching is a highly effective method. First, place a layer of cardboard or newspaper on the ground. Next, top it with a thick layer of compost, wood shavings, straw or other organic matter (i.e. crop residues or manure). With weeds under control, the soil also becomes enriched with vital nutrients for your plants or crops.
Choose plants or crops with lower water needs.
Many gardeners or small farmers choose plants or crops that require a high level of hydration to thrive. This leads to more frequent watering needs that can use up precious water resources. High-water plants to avoid include:
- Almonds
- Avocados
- Rice
- Sugarcane
Consider planting options that are native to your area and can tolerate natural conditions. You can also choose from a variety of drought-tolerant plants and crops needing less watering, such as:
- Cacti
- Corn
- Lamb’s ear
- Lavender
- Okra
- Ornamental grass
- Pole beans
- Russian sage
- Santolina
- Succulents
- Sedums
- Sweet potato
- Swiss chard
- Tomatoes
- Watermelon
- Zucchini
Before planting, ensure that any non-native plants are not invasive or harmful to your area. To help you conserve water, group plants together that have similar water requirements. Placing plants closely near one another can suppress moisture-sucking weeds, in shady areas, this can even reduce overall water evaporation in the soil. Once plants are established, which can take about two to three years, they won’t require as much water.
Invest in permeable hardscaping materials.
Choose permeable materials when it comes to your hardscaping features like paving or pathways. Permeable materials allow water to percolate into the soil and ground beneath, whereas other options force wasteful water pooling, evaporation and runoff. Get the most out of natural rainfall with permeable hardscape options like river stones or gravel, which can help keep ecosystems hydrated for longer periods between rainstorms.
Practice permaculture gardening techniques.
Permaculture gardening is an approach that works with nature to establish a “permanent agriculture” or “permanent culture.” Piggybacking off nature’s processes, permaculture gardening techniques aim to support the natural ecosystem with long-term sustainability, including water management. The following are some permaculture gardening best practices:
- Avoid annual tilling by planting perennials, such as berry plants, nut and fruit trees, herbs, rhubarb, asparagus and other vegetables.
- Choose areas of land to leave fallow for the season to preserve water.
- Encourage various plant species to support each other by attracting pollinators or using the Three Sisters technique for planting corn, squash and beans.
- Enable plants to serve their unique purposes. For example, planting trees can provide ample shade while acting as a wind barrier and decreasing water evaporation on your property.
- Maximize space by following the design of branches or a keyhole when planting instead of traditional rows.
- Utilize the zone method when planting by grouping species with similar purposes and needs.
The Importance of Drought-Resistant Landscaping
Long periods of little to no precipitation result in drought conditions and water shortages in your community. Whether you live in a drought-prone area or rarely encounter the situation, you must be prepared and know what to do during a drought – especially when it comes to your outdoor plants, crops and other landscaping features. No matter where you live, investing in drought-resistant landscaping and knowing other ways to save water can help minimize negative impacts from a drought.
Know the Signs of a Drought
Your local weather authorities and newscasters will likely have all of the information you need to navigate a drought. However, water shortages aren’t always predictable, so it pays to know the signs of a drought, including:
- Blooms that are smaller than normal
- Dusty conditions
- Fruits or flowers that are drooping or wilting
- New leaf growth rate appears to be slower
- Soil that is dry and cracked
- Twigs/branches that are dry and snap easily
- Waterways and larger bodies of water with lower levels
- Yellowish and reddish leaves unrelated to fall foliage
Evaluate Your Needs
To create an effective drought-resistant landscaping plan, you’ll first need to thoroughly evaluate your property and identify your needs. The top considerations to make include:
- Climate, typical humidity levels and average annual rainfall in your area
- Conditions across every corner of your yard, which might have dryer or wetter areas
- Soil type, quality and permeability
- Where sunlight falls on your property throughout the day and from season to season
Find Drought-Resistant Landscaping Products at Tractor Supply
Serving rural communities across the United States with over 85 years of experience, Tractor Supply is here to answer your questions about how to prepare for a drought. To learn more about the agricultural drought solutions we have available, visit your local Tractor Supply store or shop with us online.
Please note: This information is general and is not intended to replace or override any of the advice, warnings, or information given by local officials, FEMA, NOAA or any other official regulatory organization or government branch regarding storm safety in the form of thunderstorms, hurricanes, tornadoes, hail storms, floods or any other natural disaster or man-made disaster. Always follow take-cover recommendations, evacuation orders and any other advice given by local officials for your area, regardless of whether it is similar to or different from the information on TractorSupply.com.