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“Drought is as common as thunderstorms and hot summer days,” says Don Wilhite, director of the National Drought Mitigation Center in Omaha, Nebraska. “It’s a normal part of all climates. “

The key, he says, is being prepared. The keys to gardening – in any condition - he says, is condition the soil, mulching and picking high performance plants.

If rainfall is normal, your efforts won’t be wasted. Garden chores will be easier, plants will perform better and the water bill will be lower than in previous years.

One of the newest introductions to the gardening world is water retention crystals. Many mixes, like the soilless PRO-MIX® Hanging Basket & Planter Mix (www.premierhort.com), contain water-holding crystals.

PRO-MIX’s special formula of Sphagnum peat moss and other horticultural ingredients are blended with the water-absorbing crystals that hold water and give it back the plant as it needs it. These crystals make better use of your water. Some gardeners actually mix this formula right in to the topsoil with their plants and shrubs to help retain moisture longer.

Planting new flowers, vegetables and shrubs in the right environment is critical to retaining moisture. PRO- MIX’s Ed Bloodnick says their Vegetable and Flower Bed Mix has beneficial fungi which are great “drought busters.”

“These living organisms attach to roots and form extensive networks to help the plant access water and nutrients that normally would not be available to plant roots alone”

Bloodnick, a former nurseryman, warns gardeners not to “tease” the plants by watering a little everyday.

“It’s best to water deeply every three or four days,” he suggests. “This not only uses less water, but forces the roots to grow down deeply to seek out the water.”

Other people add more organic matter to the soil. One easy solution to creating healthier plants is to feed them with a good organic fertilizer, such as Espoma® Holly-Tone® and Plant-Tone® (www.espoma.com).

“Holly-Tone and Plant-Tone are complex blends of natural organics that help the soil retain moisture, while providing a slow, steady release of nutrients to make the plant stronger and healthier in dry conditions,” says Espoma’s Jeremy Brunner. “Healthy plants are less stressed and have a greater chance of survival.”

While organic composting offers water retention and nutrient providing capabilities, it takes an awful lot of it and is very labor intensive. Some Seattle-area entrepreneurs believe they have solved that problem with a “compost tea” they call Soil Soup (www.soilsoup.com).

“Unlike traditional compost that takes time, material and labor, SoilSoup is sprayed on the plants or the ground,” explains SoilSoup’s Ed Neff. ”It’s like spreading 3 inches of compost without lifting a shovel.”

Millions of tiny living organisms attach themselves to plant roots and naturally capture available moisture, holding it at the root longer and boosting the plants ability to absorb the fertilizer.

To keep the soil moist, experts agree you need to mulch heavily. Research at Texas A&M University has shown that unmulched soil may lose twice as much water to evaporation as mulched soil. Mulched soil also allows water to penetrate more deeply, and it stops water-robbing weeds from growing.

Nationally acclaimed garden writer Doreen Howard recommends spreading a two to four inch layer over all beds and making sure the mulch does not touch plant stems because that can foster diseases.

Mulches can be organic materials (which eventually rot and improve the soil) such as shredded bark, compost, straw, pine needles or wood chips; or inorganic materials, such as stone, woven plastic landscape cloth and gravel.

This spring, take a tip from the experts and you can beat the heat and dry spells this season: Pick your plants for performance, but plant them in the right “vehicle” to keep them going.

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