Saving Water in the Garden During Drought in Morocco: 10 Useful Habits and Tools

Several years of low rainfall have made every litre precious in Morocco. In many cities, garden watering is now regulated, or even limited to certain hours. Yet it is possible to keep a garden alive while saving water in the garden dramatically. The secret: give the right amount of water, at the right time, in the right place, and let nothing run to waste.

Here are 10 practical habits and tools, from the simplest (free) to the most effective (automated). Above all, always follow your municipality's water restriction guidelines.

Saving water in the garden: 5 free habits

1. Water early in the morning or in the evening

In the middle of the day, much of the water evaporates before it even reaches the roots. Water at dawn or after sunset, when the air is cooler and the wind calmer.

2. Water less often, but deeply

A light daily watering only moistens the surface and teaches roots to stay near the top. A longer watering every few days is better: the water sinks down and the roots follow it, making plants much more resistant to heat. Before watering, push a finger into the soil: if it is still moist a few centimetres down, wait.

3. Mulch the soil

Straw, shredded branches, dry leaves, bark: a few centimetres of mulch at the foot of your plants keeps the soil cool, limits evaporation and slows down the weeds that compete with your crops for water.

4. Group plants by their needs

Place thirsty plants together (vegetable garden, young plants) and, separately, the drought-tolerant ones (olive tree, rosemary, lavender, succulents). That way you only water the areas that really need it. For a new garden, choose species adapted to the local climate and reduce the lawn area.

5. Mow higher

A lawn cut very short burns quickly in the sun. By keeping the grass a little longer in summer, you shade the soil and limit drying out.

Equipment that really saves water

6. Switch to drip irrigation

This is the most effective change for a vegetable garden, a hedge or trees: water is delivered slowly at the foot of each plant. The Gardena 50 m kit with built-in drippers can even be buried or covered with mulch to reduce evaporation further. All the details in our guide installing drip irrigation for your vegetable garden and fruit trees.

7. Never forget a sprinkler left on again

A sprinkler forgotten for a whole morning means hundreds of litres wasted. The Gardena mechanical water timer screws onto the tap and shuts off the water automatically after the chosen time (from 5 min to 2 h), with no battery or electricity.

8. Schedule watering during cool hours

A water controller waters for you at dawn, even when you are away. The Gardena Select water controller allows up to 3 cycles per day, lets you choose the watering days and has a socket for a soil moisture sensor (sold separately) to skip unnecessary watering.

9. Use a water-saving spray gun for cleaning

Washing the terrace or the car with a continuous jet uses a huge amount of water. The Gardena Comfort ecoPulse spray gun uses a pulsed jet which, according to its product sheet, saves up to 40% water, with adjustable water flow across its 4 spray patterns.

10. Reuse water and hunt down leaks

A leaking connector or a dripping tap wastes water day and night: check seals and connectors at the start of the season. Also collect rainwater and the water used to rinse vegetables for your pots. For balconies and terraces, the Gardena AquaBloom solar solution draws from a container you fill and distributes water to 20 plants through drippers, with no tap or power outlet needed.

Summary: where to start?

Prices for each item are shown on the product pages. Find the full range in our Watering and Garden & Agriculture collections.

Frequently asked questions about saving water in the garden

How much water can you save with drip irrigation?

It depends on the garden and the method used before, but the savings are generally significant compared to watering with a hose or sprinkler, because the water only wets the root zone.

Should you water every day in summer?

Not necessarily. For most established plants, longer and less frequent watering is more effective. Young plants and pots, which dry out quickly, need more regular attention.

Does a water controller work without electricity?

Yes: Gardena water controllers screw onto the tap and run on batteries, the mechanical timer needs nothing at all, and the AquaBloom recharges in the sun.

Do you deliver everywhere in Morocco?

Yes, Brico MIM delivers to all cities in Morocco, with cash on delivery.