After another dry summer, "how do I drought-proof my garden" is the question we're getting asked most on first visits across London. Good news: you don't need to rip everything out and go full gravel garden. A few real changes make the biggest difference to a drought-proof garden that still looks good.
Improve the soil first. Sounds boring, but compost and mulch hold moisture in the ground far longer than any plant choice will. Skip this step and everything else is fighting an uphill battle.
Plant right, not just drought-tolerant. Lavender, verbena, sedum and ornamental grasses all cope brilliantly with dry spells once established — but "established" is the key word. Water deeply for the first year, then step back. Deep, infrequent watering builds stronger roots than a daily light sprinkle ever will.
Rethink the lawn. A thirsty patch of turf is usually the single biggest water drain in a garden. Artificial grass is one option if it's a high-use space; for a lower-maintenance planted alternative, a gravel bed with drought-tolerant planting can look sharper than grass ever did in a dry August anyway.
Mulch everything you can. Bark, gravel, whatever suits the look — bare soil loses water fast, covered soil doesn't.
None of this needs a full renovation. Most gardens get 80% of the benefit from soil, mulch, and smarter plant choices alone — the kind of drought-resistant garden ideas that hold up whether it's a dry August or a proper heatwave.