Always in a drought

5. Mulch like crazy. This is the best place for compost! Lay it on like your grandmother lays on lipstick for Sunday Mass. A layer of airy mulch will prevent a lot of wasteful evaporation. Just try to not bury the bases of the plants too much (some plants will rot at the stems with moist soil or mulch burying their bases). A good layer of mulch does wonders usually. I know a guy in town here who lays on the mulch like you wouldn't believe (he also harvests water from his roof and any such surfaces in the landscape. Last year he didn't water at all from the tap (and he grows lots of leafy veggies etc.). His secret??? Lot of mulch!!!

6. Break the local zoning codes and lead your sink, shower, and washing machine water to the tougher shrubs and trees (particularly any water heavy in soaps). You will need to alternate occasionally with fresh water (oh-yeah, like our tap is all that fresh...fresh as bleach!!!). This will leach out any soap buildup that may occur. I know lots of people that do this and it works fine. 'dont advise it for the perennial/annual or edible beds, but for shrubs, trees, etc. generally it works fine.

7. Scream at the skies, dance naked in the yard (make your neighbors move 'cause they think you're nuts), let the sun bake your brains crazy and feel the desperation of thirst.Know the desert is in you, the drought makes you alive. Talk in weird tongues, worship strange objects, just get plain NUTS. This always helps!! Take it from a desert-baked boy like me, if you cannot beat the insanity of summer, join it.

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