DENVER — A few raindrops fell as Heather Grady carefully transplanted beet seedlings into the soil on a recent afternoon, but the sky offered little relief from her concerns over a parched winter that has drained reservoirs across Colorado. With much of the state gripped by drought, Grady and her husband, Terrance, have been rethinking how to sustain their backyard vegetable garden while using less water. “We feel personally responsible, even though it’s not a problem we created,” said Grady, who documents her gardening efforts on the Instagram account Homesteading in Denver.
The ongoing drought in the U.S. West, marked by record-low snowfall this winter, has heightened worries about water supplies. Snowmelt typically replenishes rivers and lakes that provide water to communities, farms, and businesses in the region, but this year's shortfall has forced widespread conservation measures. According to the Associated Press, cities from Denver to Salt Lake City are imposing or urging restrictions on outdoor water use, affecting everything from lawns to vegetable patches.
Denver Water, the city's utility provider, announced drought restrictions on March 25 — the earliest such measures in its history. These rules limit outdoor watering for non-essential purposes, though food gardens are generally exempt with certain guidelines. In Salt Lake City, officials have encouraged voluntary cutbacks among residents while mandating reductions at government facilities. Meanwhile, places like Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Albuquerque maintain year-round seasonal watering rules to manage scarce resources.
Even in areas without strict mandates, homeowners like the Gradys are adapting to grow produce more efficiently in arid conditions. Experts emphasize that cultivating food in a water-wise manner is possible, even in desert-like environments, by making informed choices about water sources, plants, and gardening techniques. Greg Peterson, founder of The Urban Farm educational website, recommends starting by assessing available water options beyond municipal taps.
“Beyond the tap, you can harvest rain in a barrel, collect water from rinsing veggies or letting a shower warm,” Peterson said. He also suggests capturing condensation from air conditioners by placing buckets under outdoor drainpipes, a simple hack that can yield surprising amounts of reusable water. In Mesa, Arizona, gardener Don Titmus takes greywater reuse a step further for his desert food garden and pollinator oasis.
Titmus showers outdoors during the summer, directing the runoff to nearby plants, and washes dishes in basins using non-toxic soaps to repurpose the water for irrigation. “In the summer, Titmus said he showers outside and allows the water to run off to the surrounding plants,” according to reports on his methods. When rain does arrive, capturing it in barrels is preferable to relying on treated tap water, experts note.
Jamiah Hargins, founder and executive director of the nonprofit Crop Swap LA, which cultivates food on underused land in Los Angeles, highlights the advantages of rainwater. “Rainwater has more oxygen than (tap water),” Hargins said. “It actually makes the roots happier and the plants grow much better.” This approach not only conserves resources but also saves on utility bills, making it appealing for urban gardeners facing rising costs.
Selecting the right plants is another foundational step. Noelle Johnson, author of “The Water-Smart Garden” and a gardener in Arizona, advises choosing varieties adapted to local conditions, such as drought-tolerant hybrids or heirloom seeds native to the region. Healthy soil plays a crucial role too, as it retains moisture better and requires less supplemental watering.
Peterson explains that optimal soil comprises dirt, air, organic matter, water, and biological life. “Healthy soil needs less fertilizer and less water than unhealthy soil,” he said. To evaluate soil quality, Josie Hart, associate director of sustainable agriculture at Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms, recommends testing for nutrient deficiencies through local universities or private labs.
For new gardens, breaking up compacted soil with a tiller or shovel and incorporating compost or leaves creates a light, fluffy texture that holds water effectively. In subsequent seasons, simply topping with compost allows earthworms to distribute nutrients naturally, Titmus advised. This low-effort maintenance helps sustain gardens long-term without excessive inputs.
Protecting plants from sun and wind, the main culprits of evaporation, is equally important. Hart suggests positioning gardens near natural barriers like fences, trees, or sheds to block harsh elements. Shade cloths, made of plastic or burlap, can filter up to half the sunlight, reducing stress on plants in intense heat.
These cloths can be suspended from hooks on structures or over hoops above the garden beds. Johnson advocates for intensive planting, where vegetables are arranged closely in staggered patterns rather than wide rows. “Leaves of maturing plants provide shade and reduce evaporation,” she noted in her book, contrasting this with traditional methods that leave more soil exposed.
Johnson also cautions against raised beds in dry climates, as they increase exposure to air and sun compared to in-ground planting. For arid areas, Hart points to the waffle bed technique, an ancient method employed by Indigenous farmers. It involves creating small raised soil grids around plants to channel and trap rainfall directly to roots.
“Creating a waffle bed is going to capture any moisture you have going and it will keep it there,” Hart said. Mulching tops the list of protective measures, with experts unanimously agreeing it conserves soil moisture while suppressing weeds. However, they warn against wood-based mulches, which can deplete nutrients from vegetables as they break down.
Irrigation practices round out the strategy for water efficiency. Drip systems, soaker hoses, or drip tape deliver water slowly and directly to the soil, minimizing loss to evaporation or wind. Sprinklers, by contrast, waste water through aerial dispersion. Peterson's Urban Farm offers free online workshops on drip tape installation, and many local nurseries and water utilities provide similar low- or no-cost training.
Hart stresses the importance of deep, infrequent watering to encourage robust root systems. “Gardeners in hot, dry climates may think frequent watering helps plants, but it keeps roots shallow,” she explained. Instead, she recommends running drip systems for at least an hour in summer, followed by three days without watering, allowing roots to reach deeper, moister soil layers.
The Gradys plan to adopt this approach in their Denver garden this year, shifting from daily light watering to deeper sessions three days a week. “It's a huge change,” Grady said, reflecting the adjustment many homeowners are making amid the drought. As water scarcity persists, these techniques offer practical ways for individuals to contribute to broader conservation efforts.
The drought's ripple effects extend beyond backyards to agriculture and urban planning. With reservoirs at low levels, officials warn of potential impacts on food production and daily life if conservation lags. Nonprofits like Crop Swap LA demonstrate how community initiatives can scale these methods, turning vacant lots into productive, water-smart oases.
Looking ahead, experts like Peterson foresee more widespread adoption of these strategies as climate patterns shift. Water utilities continue to educate residents, and gardeners share tips online, fostering a collective response. For families like the Gradys, tending their plot isn't just about self-sufficiency — it's a step toward resilience in an uncertain environment.
The Associated Press receives support from the Walton Family Foundation for coverage of water and environmental policy, though it maintains editorial independence. For more on climate and environment, resources are available through major news hubs.