Digging Deeper -3

Mindful Watering in Times of Drought: Permaculture Approaches

By Sylvia Avontuur - Spring 2025

The Netherlands is facing an exceptionally dry spring. Visiting different community gardens, I notice that the little rain we've had has immediately been absorbed by the dry, sandy soils, while the forecast continues to show dry winds ahead. Climate extremes are a practical reality in our gardens, presenting us with new challenges each season.

Cityplotter Marye at the Molenwijk Haarlem neighbourhood garden project, shoveling wood chips to use as mulch - an excellent water-conservation technique that helps retain soil moisture during drought periods

As permaculturists, we approach these challenges systematically. Drought conditions offer us a chance to test and improve our water management strategies. By carefully observing what works and what doesn't, we can design more effective and resilient growing systems.

This spring has become a real-world experiment. The dry conditions highlight which plants struggle and which thrive, which soil treatments retain moisture longer, and where water naturally collects in the landscape. In sharing my observations and practical solutions, I hope to help fellow gardeners adapt to these changing conditions with thoughtful, effective approaches.

Start with the Soil: Your Greatest Ally

In permaculture, everything begins with soil – the living foundation of our gardens. A healthy soil rich with organic matter functions like a remarkable sponge, absorbing rainfall when it comes and slowly releasing moisture to plant roots over time.

In the community gardens I take care of, the differences between soil treatments have become strikingly clear during this drought:

• Areas that are thickly mulched (with leaves, straw, wood chips) remain moist for many days longer than bare soil

• Plots enriched with compost host plants that show remarkable
  resilience

• Uncovered soil quickly forms a hard, water-repellent crust that
  rainfall struggles to penetrate

Healthy soil acts as a natural water reservoir. Even in small garden beds, increasing organic matter significantly improves water retention, meaning less watering for you and more consistent moisture for your plants. The simplest strategy? Keep your soil covered -- with mulch, compost, or preferably living plants -- at all times.

Green manure mustard crop growing in a field - a sustainable method for improving soil by adding organic matter, enhancing water retention, and building soil structure to better withstand drought conditions

The Finger Test: Know When to Water

Before reaching for the watering can, I always recommend the simple yet effective "finger test." While the soil surface may appear bone dry in these drought conditions, moisture often remains just below.

Here's how to do it: Insert your index finger into the soil up to the second knuckle (about 5cm deep). If the soil feels moist at that depth, most established plants don't need watering yet. This simple check can save significant amounts of water and prevents overwatering, which can actually weaken plants' drought resilience.

Mindful Watering: Less Frequent, More Effective

One of the most common gardening misconceptions I encounter is that plants need daily watering during droughts. But this approach often creates dependency rather than resilience. Trees, shrubs, and perennials actually benefit from less frequent but deeper watering. This encourages their roots to grow deeper into the soil, making them stronger and more drought-resistant over time.

I've experimented with different watering regimes over the years, and the results speak for themselves: plants watered deeply once or twice a week develop far more extensive root systems than those given small amounts daily.

Seedlings vs. Established Plants

It's important to note that watering needs vary significantly based on plant maturity. Seedlings require more frequent, gentle watering as their young roots stay close to the surface. I've found that:

• Directly sown seeds need daily light watering until germination

• Young seedlings benefit from water every 1-2 days, keeping the top 2-3 cm of soil consistently moist

• Transplanted seedlings typically need daily watering for the first week, then gradually less as they establish

Once plants have grown for 3-4 weeks and developed deeper roots, you can transition to the deeper, less frequent watering schedule. Transplants from containers generally establish faster and require less watering than direct-sown plants, whose root systems take longer to develop.

Try this: Water thoroughly once or twice a week rather than giving small amounts daily. Make sure the water penetrates at least 20-30cm into the soil. Your plants will develop stronger, deeper root systems as they search for moisture.

Right Plant, Right Place: Working with Nature

Yesterday, I specifically observed how different plants are responding to the drought. The contrast was remarkable. Plants naturally suited to their locations are thriving with minimal intervention, while those planted in unsuitable spots require attention and still struggle.

This perfectly demonstrates the permaculture principle of "design from patterns to details." By understanding the natural patterns of our gardens -- areas of sun, shade, wind, and moisture retention – we can place plants where they'll naturally thrive with minimal support.

Plants with large, thin leaves generally need more water. I've learned to place these only in spots that naturally retain moisture longer, reducing the need for supplemental watering.

Stacked stone wall border at Landje van de Boer with drought-loving plants that require virtually no watering

Naturally Moist Areas

In most gardens, several areas naturally maintain moisture longer:

• Shaded spots, especially on the north side of structures or under tree canopies

• Low-lying depressions where water naturally collects

• Areas with clay subsoil that retains water

• Locations sheltered from drying winds

• Spots near water features or drainage pathways

Learning to identify and utilize these natural "moisture pockets" allows us to plant water-loving species without increasing irrigation. I observe where morning dew lingers longest and where soil stays darker after rain – these subtle clues reveal the natural water patterns of your garden.

Mediterranean Plants: Masters of Drought

Walking through the Mediterranean section of the community garden provides valuable lessons in drought adaptation. These plants have evolved remarkable strategies for thriving in dry conditions.

I've come to recognize drought-adapted plants by their:

• Gray-green foliage that reflects sunlight

• Leathery or needle-like leaves that reduce water loss

• Woody, often branching stems that store water

• Aromatic oils that create a microclimate around leaves

Rosemary, lavender, sage, and oregano actually perform better with minimal water -- their root systems are adapted to well-drained soil and become stressed in wet conditions.

Herb spiral at the community garden "Landje van de Boer," with Mediterranean herbs at the top requiring less water, while moisture-loving herbs like mint and watercress grow at the bottom - demonstrating how to organize plants according to their water needs in a single structure

The Grapevine Wisdom

Grapevines offer another valuable insight. In traditional wine regions, grapevines are rarely given supplemental water! This "drought stress" forces them to develop extremely deep roots that draw minerals from different soil layers, contributing to the famous "terroir" or taste of place in wines. In dry years, grapes develop more concentrated flavors, while in wetter years, their taste is milder. I've applied this principle to other fruiting plants in my garden -- sometimes less water equals more flavor and stronger plants. This also counts for tomatoes in their fruiting period.

Container Gardens: Meeting the Drought Challenge

For those of us growing in containers on balconies and rooftops, drought presents an even greater challenge. Container plants dry out much faster than those in the ground, especially in windy conditions.

I've been experimenting with several approaches:

• Grouping pots together to create humidity microclimates

• Using larger containers for greater soil volume and moisture
  retention

• Applying mulch to the soil surface in containers

Extremes: From Flood to Drought

It's fascinating to reflect on the contrast between this spring and last year. Around this time in 2024, the community gardens were dealing with excessive rainfall, an explosion of slugs, and mole hills appearing everywhere. Now we're facing drought conditions with barely a slug in sight, and I've noticed significantly fewer mole hills.

These wild swings between extremes are becoming our new normal. The disappearance of slugs in dry weather makes perfect sense. But what about the moles? I wonder if they're less active near the surface because earthworms (their primary food) have moved deeper into the soil searching for moisture? If any ecologists are reading this, I'd love to hear your insights on mole behavior during drought conditions!

This presents an interesting gardening paradox: How do we create gardens resilient enough to handle both flooding and drought?

Permaculture solutions for climate extremes:

• Strategic drainage AND water retention: Create systems that can
  drain excess water during wet periods but retain moisture during dry spells:

• Swales: Shallow ditches dug on contour to slow, spread, and sink water into the landscape

• Rain gardens: Planted depressions that capture runoff and allow it to infiltrate slowly

• Hugel beds: Raised beds with buried wood that acts like a sponge, absorbing water during wet times and releasing it during dry periods

• Diverse plant selection: Include both drought-tolerant and
  wet-tolerant species in different garden zones

• Raised beds AND basins: Use raised areas for plants that need
  good drainage alongside depression areas that capture rainfall

• Adaptive mulching: Apply thicker mulch during drought, but pull
  it back from sensitive plants during extended wet periods to prevent rot and prevent slugs from moving in

• Soil structure improvement: Focus on building soil with
  excellent structure that can both drain well AND retain moisture

Creatively Responding to Change

This drought is challenging, but it's also an opportunity to apply another fundamental permaculture principle: "Creatively use and respond to change." Rather than fighting against the changing climate, I'm adapting our community garden practices:

• Shifting planting schedules to take advantage of cooler, wetter
  periods (like planting trees in autumn when roots can establish before summer stress)

• Selecting more drought-tolerant varieties

• Redesigning spaces to harvest and maximize every drop of rain when
  it does fall

• Creating more shade and wind protection to reduce evaporation

• Building soil that can better absorb and hold moisture

Voices from the Field: PLUK CSA

As climate extremes become more common, it's valuable to hear from those working directly with the land. Eduard from Pluk! CSA, a community-supported agriculture project in the Netherlands, shares their experience:

“Adapting to every drastic climate period has been the reality of small-scale farmers the last few years in the Netherlands.”

— Eduard Hernández Nualar, Pluk CSA Farmer

Pluk! CSA’s thoughts and practices in dry periods:

"Adapting to every drastic climate period has been the reality of small-scale farmers the last few years in the Netherlands. At Pluk! we had to install water pumps and irrigation systems in all fields 5 years ago due to the drought that lasted for over 2 years in the Netherlands (2021 and 2022). But in the two subsequent years (2023-2024) we had the most rainy periods ever recorded in the country with no need whatsoever to use the water system.

The beginning of 2025 has been quite a dry period, which is very much appreciated in our fields as the heavy clay soil is still pretty wet from last year's rain. This is giving us a break from weeds, slugs, fungal disease and slow seedling growth due to waterlog.

For instance, practices like planting potatoes straight into the winter-cover layer of straw (mulch) without being afraid of slugs eating all the new born leaves would have been impossible during last year's rains. Another example is that we are leaving grass growing in paths and edges to protect the soil and enhance biodiversity. This is possible this year thanks to the dry period. Last year, these mini-oases provided shelter for slugs, and they feasted on all of our young green shoots and leaves.

So, as much as installing, fixing and maintaining the irrigation systems means extra work, the sun and good weather of these last two months has improved the quality of our crops at the beginning of this season. But let's not be naive; we need try to understand the complexity of these rare climate periods in these latitudes at this time of the year, as more drastic climate episodes will be happening more often in the coming years."

Community wisdom

In these challenging times, our community knowledge-sharing becomes even more valuable. What drought-adaptation techniques are working in your garden? Have you discovered plants that are surprisingly resilient? Or water-saving methods that have made a difference?

I'd love to hear your experiences and insights. Together, we can transform our gardens into resilient oases -- ready for whatever climate future awaits us.

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Film Recommendation: "Water is Love"

If you're inspired by these community-based approaches to water management, I highly recommend watching the documentary "Water is Love." This powerful film follows young people confronting climate change while exploring inspiring stories of regenerative ecosystem design around the world. It showcases how communities in India, Kenya, and Portugal are implementing water retention systems that restore complete water cycles.

The film beautifully weaves together traditional ecological knowledge and modern approaches, demonstrating how water shapes climate and how decentralized, community-driven water management offers a critical path forward in this era of climate disruption. At a time when governmental responses often fall short, "Water is Love" highlights the power of local action and collective wisdom in creating resilient and regenerative systems.

For more information about creating water-resilient urban spaces, visit Rainproof Amsterdam.

by Sylvia Avontuur Permaculture designer and educator