Although it’s tempting to plant desert trees in the bottom of your water harvesting basins, don’t do it.
Remember that all-day hike in the rain, the one where your feet stayed wet? That’s exactly how desert trees like ironwood, mesquite, and palo verde trees would feel.
Instead, plant those desert trees and shrubs near your basins, but not in them. Just like my front yard mesquite tree (shown above), they’ll sense that there’s water nearby and they’ll extend their roots to it.
Of course, there are exceptions to this rule. And one of the leading rule-breakers is the mesquite, that thorny rascal of a tree.
I’ve gone hiking and look! In the low spot of that creek bed! It’s a naturally occurring water harvesting basin. And wouldn’t you know it, there’s a mesquite tree, right in the middle of the basin.
So much for being near the basin, but not in it.
Then there are the non-desert trees. In my backyard, I have a Meyer lemon that’s irrigated with greywater from my washing machine. It’s in a much shallower basin than the one shown above, and it’s doing just fine.
Another Learning Opportunity!
Check out Martha’s new audiobook and eBook, Water Harvesting 101. It will help you get your water harvesting journey off to a strong start.