There are five locations that a garden naturally stores water (Design Gardens with Nature's Systems for Health).

1. In the soil: One of the main purposes of soft, loamy soil (Soil Magic Where Dead Things Revive) is to hold water for long periods of time. The healthier the soil, the greater its water retention abilities.
2. In swales: Swales are a good way to dam off water so it soaks into the healthy soil and travels slower through the soil rather than running off on the surface. Well designed swales will guide water to where it needs to be without the need for mechanical systems.
3. In plants: Plants hold water (Design Gardens with Nature's Systems for Health). Some hold more water than they need and can push water back into the soil when the soil gets too dry. Fallen mother trees store a ton of water in them.
4. In the shade: Shade prevents the sun from baking the water out of the soil. While some plants like more sun than others, dry dirt is never beneficial.
5. In mulch: Mulch is basically the go-between. Mulch is ground up plants, placed in swales, creates shade for the underlying dirt, and becomes soil over time. All the water retaining properties of the previous four are combined here in mulch.

Citations

#permaculture #toolong