Summer is about to hit and the drought is in full flight in many parts of the country. What does this mean for our gardens? It feels wrong pouring water on plants when our mates in the bush have so little – and even in parts of our cities, people are on tank water. Just how do you have a thriving garden without wasting water?

We need to assess what we are planting and avoid thirsty plants. Succulents (such as Kalanchoe orgyalis "Copper Spoons", pictured, with the contrasting silver foliage of a hardy liquorice plant) are an obvious choice. Once established, they can happily cope with long periods without water. Mediterranean plants are also drought-tolerant, but must be watered well when first planted. Natives are super-tough and naturally adapted to coping with periods of drought – select ones that are known to thrive in your area.

You can also help your soil to retain moisture by adding composted manure and organic matter. Very dry soil can repel water, so apply a wetting agent with the compost to help it absorb moisture more efficiently. Top with between 50 and 70 millimetres of good mulch – no more or it may stop water reaching the soil. You can use mulch on pots, but it's best to use a gravel as this won't leach colour onto tiles.

When you do water your plants, it's best to give a thorough soak, then allow the soil to dry out between watering – much better than a little bit every day. Water in the morning or the evening, and do it by hand – I remove the hose nozzle and let water flow out, holding a kink in the hose with other hand to control the output. Avoid high-pressure hoses as this erodes soil, and water the rootball rather than foliage. Let it sink in for 10 to 30 seconds depending on size of plant, then move on.

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