Water Capture in the Xeric Garden......can be as simple as putting a bucket under the downspout, or as complex as multiple cisterns and rain barrels with taps, pumps and hoses to deliver the water to its destination. Don't forget to make your water capture system beautiful too, with a rustic rain chain. Capturing Mother Natures water is an important feature of a xeric garden; just choosing drought tolerant plants and having smart strategies to make your water go further isn't enough; even your xeric garden requires some water. Using RainwaterRain as it falls from the sky usually has few impurities, making it perfect for watering plants. Using rainwater to irrigate succulents with waxy or hairy leaves won't mark them with calcium or other minerals. Rainwater has been long been prized for washing hair - use rain water to rinse out the shampoo and you'll be pleasantly surprised at how smooth and sleek your hair feels. In some areas, rainwater is used for household purposes, even drinking water, but a system should be set up specifically to safely capture it. Rainfall and GreywaterCapture as much rainfall as you can off the roofs around your homestead, and don't forget snow-melt as well.Any water source such as a pond will attract wildlife and the insects they feed on to your garden. 
In some areas of the world, greywater, the waste water from showers and laundry, is guided into a treatment area such as a mulch bed or reed bed to be purified in a natural way. Warm winter areas would be the most logical place to use this. Become a Lazy Xeric GardenerLeave stems and flower heads on your perennials and shrubs to capture snowfall. This is especially important if you're in a windy area.
Use snow fencing if you have no hedgerows or a windbreak close by, or build a loose fence of tree limbs and brush to stop drifting. Get your Water Capture Systems in PlaceBuilding berms and swales to guide heavy rainfall to areas that need it without flooding and erosion is an investment that will pay dividends.Soil conservation is an important benefit of capturing rainfall. Line the swale with grass or other plants, or make a dry streambed. Rain gardens will allow the water to slow down and prevent run off. Use a siltation pond to allow the sediment to settle before the water leaves your garden to prevent polluting of downstream water bodies. Safety and Maintenance Tips
Using some smart systems to capture at least a little bit of water can ease the burden on our public water systems, plus the strain on your wallet. If you can use free water, and gravity to get it to where it has to go, you'll save money and the planet in one easy step. Sustainability in your GardenHow do you garden sustainably? Share your tip or hint here.
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