The Precious Resource: Water
As we come out of winter 2026, there is one thing that has been very much on our minds here at G’s Lane — water.
Winter is normally a time when the garden gets a bit of a break. The cooler temperatures mean plants generally need less water, and if we are lucky, winter rains can provide a welcome boost to the soil and our water tanks.
This year, however, has been very different.
We have barely had any rain.
It has been one of the driest periods we have experienced since beginning our journey here at G’s Lane, and it has really made us stop and think about just how precious our water resources are.
For us, water isn't simply something that comes out of a tap. It is something we have to think about, plan for, collect, store and use carefully. Every litre has a purpose, particularly when you are trying to establish a young orchards, grow food, nurture trees and keep everything alive through a dry season.
And this year, we have certainly been putting our water resources to the test.
The Young Protea Babies Come First
One of our priorities this year has been our young Proteas.
Anyone who has planted young trees or shrubs knows that those first few years can be critical. While an established plant may have developed a substantial root system that can search out moisture deeper in the ground, newly planted plants are much more vulnerable.
Our Protea babies are no exception.
We have been giving them their regular watering, trying to provide enough moisture to help them establish strong root systems without wasting water. It is a balancing act.
Too little water and young plants can become stressed or fail to establish properly. Too much, particularly in the wrong conditions, can create its own problems.
So we have been keeping an eye on them, watching the weather and adjusting what we do according to what the plants are telling us.
But as the dry spell continues, it became obvious that the Proteas were not going to be the only plants needing a little extra help.
Supporting the Older Trees
One of the interesting things about having a growing garden is that every season teaches you something.
When we first started our journey at G’s Lane, we were learning about our land, our soil, our climate and what would grow here. As the years have passed, the garden has developed, and so have our responsibilities.
We now have a collection of plants and trees that we really don't want to see struggle simply because the rain hasn't arrived.
Some of these plants are more established than others, but even established trees can appreciate a helping hand during an exceptionally dry period.
This year, we have particularly noticed the need to provide additional support to our Lemon Myrtles, Finger Limes, mixed citrus orchard and grape vines.
These are plants we have invested time and care into, and they are now part of the developing landscape here at G’s Lane.
When the weather refuses to provide the moisture they need, we have to step in.
That means extra watering, more trips around the property and, perhaps most importantly, being much more conscious about how much water we are using.
A Dry Garden Means More Than Just Watering
It is easy to think about drought or a dry season as simply a matter of watering plants.
But there is more to it than that.
When the soil dries out, plants can become stressed. The hotter and drier conditions can increase evaporation, meaning water applied to the garden can disappear surprisingly quickly.
That makes the timing of watering important.
It also makes the way we water important.
We don't want to simply put water everywhere and hope for the best. We want the water to actually reach the plants and their root zones, where it can do some good.
Mulching, careful watering and paying attention to individual plants all become more important when water is limited.
It is also about learning which plants really need the help and which ones can manage with less.
Not every plant needs the same amount of water.
Some are remarkably resilient. Others, particularly newly planted specimens, can be much more demanding.
And when you are responsible for a whole collection of growing things, those differences matter.
The Citrus Orchard
Our mixed citrus orchard is another area where we have had to provide additional support.
Citrus trees can be incredibly rewarding, but they are also plants that we want to keep healthy and growing well if we are going to enjoy their fruit in the years ahead.
We have a mixture of citrus growing here, and each tree is at a slightly different stage.
Some are more established, while others are still finding their feet.
During a dry period like this, we have had to make sure the trees don't become unnecessarily stressed.
It is not just about keeping them alive.
We want them to have enough moisture to continue developing healthy root systems, maintain their foliage and, where appropriate, support fruit development.
But every time we turn on the water, we are also thinking about the bigger picture.
How much water do we have?
How long until we get meaningful rain?
What else will need watering?
And how can we make what we have last?
These are questions we wouldn't necessarily be asking ourselves to the same extent during a wetter year.
Finger Limes and Lemon Myrtles
Our Finger Limes have also needed some extra attention this year.
There is something particularly satisfying about growing plants that produce food, and our Finger Limes are certainly plants we enjoy having around. Like many of the younger plants in the garden, though, they need a little extra support while they establish themselves, particularly when the weather isn't cooperating.
Our Lemon Myrtles are a little different.
They have actually been in the ground for a few years now, so you would think they should be well and truly established. The problem is the soil they were planted into. It was hard as a rock.
Even though we broke up the ground when we planted them and have mulched the area several times since, the soil in that particular spot still isn't the greatest. It dries out incredibly quickly, and once it does, it becomes difficult for the trees to get the moisture they need.
We've tried to make the trees work for themselves for as long as possible.
We don't want to be constantly stepping in with extra water every time things get a little dry. Part of establishing trees is allowing them to develop their own root systems and become resilient to the conditions around them. We certainly don't want to create plants that can only survive if we're constantly watering them.
But there is only so far you can push them.
There comes a point where leaving them to struggle isn't helping them become stronger — it's putting them at risk of being lost altogether.
And after watching them grow for several years, that's not something we want to happen.
So, during this particularly dry period, we've had to step in and give our Lemon Myrtles some extra support. The same goes for the Finger Limes and some of the other trees around the property.
It isn't about keeping everything perfectly watered all the time. It's about recognising when a plant has reached its limit and giving it enough help to get through the conditions.
The Lemon Myrtles have also reminded us that planting something is only the beginning of the journey. Sometimes the conditions underneath the plant can be just as important as what is happening above the ground. We can mulch, improve the soil and do what we can, but some areas of our property are simply more challenging than others.
That hard, dry soil is something we'll continue working on.
For now, though, we have to balance improving the soil over the long term with keeping the trees alive in the short term.
When the rain doesn't come, the garden becomes a little bit more of a partnership.
The plants do their part.
We do ours.
And the water is the link between the two.
This year, more than ever, we're learning just how important that link really is.
The Grape Vines
Then there are the grape vines.
Grapes are another crop that can require attention when conditions become particularly dry.
As with the citrus, we are trying to find that balance between providing enough water and being responsible with the resource.
It can be tempting, particularly when you see plants looking thirsty, to simply give them more.
But when your available water is limited, you have to think beyond today's needs.
We don't know exactly when the next substantial rainfall will arrive.
So every watering decision becomes part of a bigger plan.
New Butternut Pumpkins
And then there are the newest members of the garden.
Our newly planted Butternut Pumpkins are another crop requiring support.
New plants are always exciting.
There is something about putting a seedling or young plant into the ground and imagining what it might become. With pumpkins, you can almost picture those vines spreading out across the garden and, hopefully, producing plenty of fruit.
But right now, they need us.
Their root systems are still developing, and they don't yet have the resilience of a well-established plant.
So they have been added to the watering rounds.
It is another reminder that when you plant something new, you also take on the responsibility of helping it through those early stages.
Our Wicking Pots
We are also experimenting with wicking pots, particularly for some of our herbs and tomatoes.
This is part of our ongoing learning at G’s Lane.
We are always looking for ways to use water more effectively, particularly for plants that we want to keep productive without constantly having to water from above.
Wicking systems can be an interesting way of approaching water management because they allow plants to draw moisture from below as needed.
For us, the wicking pots are another experiment.
Some things work beautifully straight away.
Other things teach you what you might need to change next time.
That's gardening.
There is always something to learn.
The herbs and tomatoes in the wicking pots are giving us another opportunity to see how we can make our water work harder for us.
And in a dry year, that is something worth exploring.
The 1,000-Litre Reality
Thankfully, we are fortunate to have access to a local fill point here in Esk where we can top up our IBCs when needed.
It takes only around 90 seconds to fill an IBC at the local fill point, which is pretty impressive when you think about how much water that actually is.
For us, having access to this water supply has been a real blessing during this particularly dry period.
We are very grateful for the resource and for the ability to access water when our tanks need a little extra support. Without it, keeping everything going through such a dry winter would be a much bigger challenge.
Of course, having access to water doesn't mean we want to waste it. Quite the opposite. When you realise just how quickly we can go through water doing the rounds of the garden, you become very aware of how precious every litre is.
Our IBCs give us a practical way of moving and storing that water so we can get it where it is needed most.
So, while we are certainly hoping for the rain to return and fill our tanks naturally, we're incredibly thankful that this local resource is available to us in the meantime.
Ninety seconds to fill an IBC — and a whole lot of plants that are very grateful for it!
