In a time of unprecedented bushfires, when native animals are dying from starvation and farmers are selling their breeding stock in Australia's worst-hit drought areas, keeping a garden going may seem like a frivolous extravagance.

But a green buffer around your house will not only keep you and your home cooler. The plants will also offer shelter and food to all manner of wildlife, from insects and reptiles, right up to birds, mammals and bats.

It's especially important to keep established trees alive, as these provide much-needed shade and habitat, and take so much longer to replace.

Soil moisture is below average across much of Australia and the need for rain is acute.

On the high plains behind Sydney, Bathurst normally enjoys cool winters and mild, wet summers well suited to gardening, which the town celebrates with a Spring Spectacular every October. But based on current usage and recent weather patterns, the Ben Chifley Dam is projected to have no usable water left by July 2020.

As a result, the town, and many others in the region, has been on tough water restrictions, and this spring they got tougher: only 30 minutes twice a week are allowed for watering gardens, and no lawn watering.

The 10 gardens open to the public were allowed extra water rations until after the show, but many Bathurst gardeners are looking to long-term solutions to keep their gardens alive.

Bathurst Gardeners' Club member and horticulturist Peter Varman has noticed a change in gardening habits over recent years.

"There has been a move to embrace natives and Mediterranean plants," he says.

"Gardeners are also getting smarter about how they use their water and plan their gardens."

Whether you live in a region with tough water restrictions or not, there are three broad areas you can help your garden: hardware, habits and plant choice.

Hardware

Dream Gardens host Michael McCoy has used gravel for pathways in his garden in Victoria. The gravel acts as a mulch and weed suppressor, also allowing any rainwater which does fall to permeate the surface, instead of running off into stormwater drains. ( DBenjamin Knop/Creative Button: Dream Gardens )

If you haven't yet done so, put in water tanks.

If you haven't yet done so, put in water tanks. Consider replacing some lawn with native grasses, mulch, pebbles, gravel paths, or other permeable surfaces, to avoid water running off the land and into stormwater drains.

Consider replacing some lawn with native grasses, mulch, pebbles, gravel paths, or other permeable surfaces, to avoid water running off the land and into stormwater drains. If you have natural run-off areas such as beside driveways or on a slope, dig a mini dam or channel to slow down the water and give it time to soak in.

If you have natural run-off areas such as beside driveways or on a slope, dig a mini dam or channel to slow down the water and give it time to soak in. Set up your soil for success; the more organic matter in your soil, the more water and nutrients it will hold, so keep adding compost and mulch, mulch, mulch.

Set up your soil for success; the more organic matter in your soil, the more water and nutrients it will hold, so keep adding compost and mulch, mulch, mulch. A drip irrigation system is the most efficient way of getting water to plants without evaporation or waste, and a deep soak once a week is more effective than more frequent, light watering. However, if you are on extreme water restrictions, a drip system won't deliver enough water for a deep soak in just half an hour.

Habits

Put out water for birds. Look for a safe area where small birds can retreat under overhanging branches. A tray of wet sand is a safe drinking station for butterflies and bees, which can drown in open water.

Put out water for birds. Look for a safe area where small birds can retreat under overhanging branches. A tray of wet sand is a safe drinking station for butterflies and bees, which can drown in open water. Collect water wherever you can: Redirect grey water from your washing machines or bath to your gardens. Some reverse-cycle air conditioners also produce recyclable water you can collect.

Collect water wherever you can: Redirect grey water from your washing machines or bath to your gardens. Some reverse-cycle air conditioners also produce recyclable water you can collect. Put a bucket in the shower to catch excess flow, and in the sink to collect the cold water you run while waiting for hot water to come through, or from washing vegetables.

Put a bucket in the shower to catch excess flow, and in the sink to collect the cold water you run while waiting for hot water to come through, or from washing vegetables. Wash your car on the nature strip or lawn if possible, to absorb the run off.

Wash your car on the nature strip or lawn if possible, to absorb the run off. When you mow, don't cut your lawn too short — a 2-3cm cover will protect the roots and keep the soil moist.

When you mow, don't cut your lawn too short — a 2-3cm cover will protect the roots and keep the soil moist. Use a wetting agent to prevent soil from becoming water repellent. If you don't want to buy it, you can easily make your own.

Use a wetting agent to prevent soil from becoming water repellent. If you don't want to buy it, you can easily make your own. Use seaweed extract to stimulate plants (available in nurseries).

Use seaweed extract to stimulate plants (available in nurseries). If you water the garden with a hose, do so in the early morning or evening to minimise evaporation.

If you water the garden with a hose, do so in the early morning or evening to minimise evaporation. Plant in autumn, so new plants have the cooler winter season to get established before summer kicks in. Top End gardeners should plant at the start of the wet.

Plant in autumn, so new plants have the cooler winter season to get established before summer kicks in. Top End gardeners should plant at the start of the wet. Prioritise your watering. There may be sections of your garden you can sacrifice, or that will survive better on less water. If possible, group all your thirsty plants in one area.

Prioritise your watering. There may be sections of your garden you can sacrifice, or that will survive better on less water. If possible, group all your thirsty plants in one area. Water pots by standing them in a large bucket of water until the bubbles stop rising; this way you know they've had a good soak and there is less run-off. It also prevents potting mix from drying out so much that it becomes hydrophobic.

Water pots by standing them in a large bucket of water until the bubbles stop rising; this way you know they've had a good soak and there is less run-off. It also prevents potting mix from drying out so much that it becomes hydrophobic. Mulch garden beds regularly. Wood chips, leaves, straw or even ripped up newspapers can be laid over the top of your soil to hold in moisture.

Mulch garden beds regularly. Wood chips, leaves, straw or even ripped up newspapers can be laid over the top of your soil to hold in moisture. A chopped-off milk container or empty plant pot can be half-buried near trees and other big bushes and shrubs to help deliver any rainfall or hand-watering closer to deep roots.

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Plants for dry-tolerant gardens

Low-growing groundcover plants (such as these in Michael McCoy's garden in Woodend, Victoria) behave like living mulch, lowering the temperature of the soil, shading the roots of larger plants, and slowing evaporation. ( Benjamin Knop/Creative Button: Dream Gardens )