The Drought and What You Can Do About It

Through lack of rainfall and water, drought causes plants, crops and wildlife to become parched and eventually die. If a plant is drought tolerant, it is able to grow or thrive during or in spite of a drought.

In this introduction to water-wise plants and gardens, find out more about drought-tolerant landscaping, xeriscapes and natives.

That big hole -- aka swimming pool -- in your backyard uses lots of water. Before you fill it in and transform it into a kitchen garden, there are several ways you can practice water conservation with your pool or spa. Get smart -- water smart -- by learning more about your pool or spa and the preventative steps you can take and repairs you can make to help conserve water. Do your part to reduce and control water losses from pools and spas.

Drought tolerant. Water conservation. Water-wise. Water saving. Xeriscaping. Dry gardening. Desert gardening. Native garden. Hardscaping. Whatever term you use, it still has the same goal: to use less water, save and conserve one of the earth's most vital resources. From California to Georgia and Australia to South Africa, regions throughout the world are affected by drought at one time or another. It's up to every one of us in and near these drought-stricken areas to actively do their part to conserve water.

You may know about some ways to save water indoors, but how about outside? Follow these suggestions contributed by World Water Council, American Red Cross and other organizations.

We all know about dreaded leaks inside houses, but what about outside the house, in your yard, in the pool, on the patio or on the roof?

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) formed the WaterSense partnership program to help consumers and businesses make informed choices and save water, energy and money. Find out how much water is used by an average U.S. household, along with ways to check for leaks and how to maintain your outdoor water sources to prevent future leaks and loss of energy and money.

Succulents have become wildly popular during the past decade, and as we learn more about them and see them beautifully woven into landscape design, they aren't just a cousin to the prickly cactus. With careful planning and research, you can have an entire succulent garden without a thorn in sight, which is a good thing for pool and patio gardens, where people gather and the ouch factor is always a threat.

Ready to see succulents combined in landscapes like never before?

Hardscaping includes the parts of your yard that aren't landscaped with living plants and trees. Concrete patios, wooden decks, flagstone, brick and pea gravel pathways and recycled rubber mulch for a playground area are all types of hardscaping.

Why is hardscaping considered drought tolerant? Let's see -- do you water it? Discover beautiful and unique hardscape materials, both natural and man-made.

Reason No. 1: Using a Pool Cover Slows Down or Stops Evaporation

Remember learning about evaporation in an elementary school science class? It's the process in which a liquid is changed into a vapor, and that's what happens with your pool water every day it's not covered.

Find out what the other nine reasons are for using a swimming pool or hot tub cover. If you can think of more, let us know!

Waterwise landscaping can be attractive with well-chosen native plants mixed with hardscaping, garden structures and garden art. And like the conservation-minded gardens that focus on using less water, natural fertilizers or organic pest control, the examples in this image gallery of garden art are eco-conscious. As you'll see, some of the best garden art comes from ordinary objects that have been recycled, reused, or repurposed. Let these photos of landscape designs inspire you to look at that old sculpture-class bust or architectural relic in a new way.

"Many people picture drought-tolerant gardens as being full of plants like Joshua trees and cacti," says Vanessa Richins Myers, About.com Guide to Trees and Shrubs. "However, you don't have to sacrifice beauty to save water. One key is watering regularly for a year or two to help the roots develop properly. You also should choose species with proven drought tolerance."

Take a tour of her drought-tolerant tree gallery -- many are green and lush and have flowers!

As drought hits areas and forces water conservation to become a reality, many people look for ways to use less water in their gardens. One way is to choose shrubs that are drought tolerant. The shrubs in this gallery have demonstrated drought tolerance in the landscape.