The Water-Smart Garden: Techniques and Strategies for Conserving, Capturing, and Efficiently Using Water in Today’s Climate…and Tomorrow’s

Horticulturist and landscape consultant Johnson (Dry Climate Gardening) guides readers through a holistic exploration of how to reduce water usage while still maintaining an attractive home landscape. Vibrant and instructive photographs accompany the text throughout the book. Johnson promotes drip irrigation, but she acknowledges that it is not the best watering solution for everyone, so she describes alternative methods, including harvesting rainwater and using ollas. She instructs readers on evaluating their garden space regarding average rainfall, sun exposure, climate region, and soil type. She provides an extensive list of plants that are acclimated to areas with lower levels of rainfall, but readers should be aware that one of the recommended shrubs, Nandina, is an invasive species in some U.S. states. Johnson also addresses the water needs specific to lawns, vegetable gardens, and container gardens and how to water these garden types efficiently. The final chapter outlines projects that should be manageable for most gardeners. The book’s back matter includes a list of resources and an index.