9

I am not convinced that digging huge amounts of compost into the soil really does increase its moisture-retention capacity and the ability of plants to withstand drought. Quite often, it has the opposite effect. Shaping the soil surface (see no. 4 opposite) to direct and capture soil water by using mini-dams, basins and swales (troughs that catch surface water) is a far simpler and more effective approach, especially when combined with well-timed planting.