Guide to creating a vegetable garden without irrigation: mulch, ground cover, and mulching

Water less, produce as much? It’s possible.

In a context of recurring droughts, watering bans, and a desire for autonomy, more and more gardeners are looking to grow without relying on water. Good news: a garden without irrigation is not a fantasy. It is a reality, especially in permaculture, where the soil is nourished, protected, and structured to retain moisture naturally.

Here is a complete guide to designing a water-efficient garden thanks to three pillars: mulch, mulching, and ground cover plants.

1. Mulch: what is it?

The term “mulch” refers to any organic or mineral material placed on the soil surface to protect it. The goal? To reproduce what happens in the forest, where the soil is always covered with dead leaves, twigs, and humus.

A good mulch allows:

• Reducing evaporation of water contained in the soil.
• Slowing the growth of competing weeds.
• Promoting microbial life.
• Buffering thermal shocks.

2. Mulching: which materials to use?

Mulching is a form of mulch, but more specific to the vegetable garden. Here are the most used materials — and those we recommend:

🌾 Local organic materials

• Cereal straw: light, available, ideal for summer crops.
• Cut hay: more nutritious but may contain seeds.
• Dead leaves: abundant in autumn, rich in carbon.
• Grass clippings (dried beforehand to avoid fermentation).
• Ramial chipped wood (RCW): excellent on perennial crops.

♻️ Recycled materials

• Unprinted brown cardboard: as a layer under the mulch to smother weeds.
• Newspaper in small amounts (avoid colored inks).

A good mulch must be airy, thick (5 to 10 cm), and renewed throughout the season. It not only replaces intensive watering but also regular weeding.

3. Ground cover plants: allies of dry soil

Ground cover plants are spreading plants that protect the soil, reduce erosion, and retain moisture. They are particularly useful in a garden designed to limit water needs.

🌱 Edible ground covers

• Lamb's lettuce: ideal in autumn-winter.
• Cuban claytonia: grows at the foot of tomatoes, covers quickly.
• Golden purslane: covers the soil and is eaten in salads.

🌼 Melliferous or useful ground covers

• Marigold: protects, attracts pollinators.
• Dwarf white clover: fixes nitrogen, smothers weeds.
• Phacelia: grows fast, attracts beneficial insects.

4. Optimize water management

In addition to mulching and ground covers, here are some tips to save water in your garden:

• Plant densely (in staggered rows) to create natural shade.
• Prefer occasional but deep watering, if necessary, using drip irrigation or an inverted bottle.
• Reuse unsalted kitchen water (vegetable cooking, fruit washing).
• Collect rainwater in buckets or containers, even on a terrace.

5. Crops adapted to dry areas

Some plants are naturally more drought tolerant than others. Here are some varieties to favor:

• Running pumpkins (wide foot, good natural ground cover).
• Dry beans (reduced water needs after flowering).
• Beets, summer leeks, chickpeas.

Conclusion

A garden without irrigation is not an abandoned garden, quite the opposite. It is a carefully thought-out garden, where each action (mulching, covering, planting densely) replaces an artificial intervention. Thanks to mulch, mulching, and companion plants, you can produce while respecting the natural water cycle.

🌿 Explore our selection of seeds and start your resilient garden today.