LOCAL gardening enthusiast Brenda Lyon has a tip for those trying to keep their garden moist during drought conditions: mulch, mulch and more mulch.
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Brenda Lyon's Brydie Park garden, on Sloggetts Road, covers three acres.
Her garden is 11 years old and includes a variety of species, including flowering shrubs and perennials such as mollis azaleas, peonies, poppies and bearded irises.
The garden includes many ponds and water features as well as a pergola and gazebo.
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It also has hundreds of varieties of daffodil plants.
"Plants need water to survive. I guess that is fairly obvious," Ms Lyon said.
"Without a lot of rain about, we have to collect what we can - even your household water such as shower and laundry waste, remembering to reduce your detergents or soaps so not to change the pH of the soil too much.
"You will be surprised how much water you can capture from the bathroom and laundry. Capture this water and distribute through your garden."
Ms Lyon said gardeners' priority should be their most treasured plants.
"Your expensive trees or shrubs should be your top priority.
"Prune your plants so they can reserve energy just to survive.
"Deep watering is much better than everyday shallow watering.
"You can achieve that by placing a bucket with a few holes in the bottom near the treasured plant or use an upside-down two-litre bottle. This works just as well.
"Make sure your watering penetrates to the root zone. Soils become dry and compacted and the water will run off and not get through.
"Dig some holes down to the roots and water directly into the holes.
"Mulch will help keep the soil cool, remembering that it will also preserve the water in the soil.
"Don't have your mulch too thick and make a catchment with the mulch around the trunk of your plants.
"There are also various forms of water crystals and soil wetters available at nurseries."
Ms Lyon previously owned and established the Falkirk Daffodil Farm on the Edith Road.
