Table of contents : CONTENTS......Page 6 PREFACE......Page 8 Acknowledgements......Page 10 1 Causes of water shortages......Page 12 2 Plants and water......Page 16 3 Know your soil......Page 40 4 Organic matter and soils......Page 50 5 Your soil is a reservoir......Page 56 6 Water quality......Page 66 7 Delivering water to your plants......Page 78 8 Garden watering systems......Page 96 9 Mulches: the facts......Page 106 10 New gardens and new gardens from old......Page 116 11 Dealing with too much water......Page 124 12 Lawns......Page 128 13 Water for plants in pots......Page 142 14 Testing potting mixes......Page 158 Appendix 1 Sources of extra information......Page 161 Index......Page 164