Germany and Austria brace for dry summer with water‑saving measures

The German Weather Service warns that the 2026 summer months of June, July and August are likely to be “rather dry”, especially in Nordrhein‑Westfalen, Rheinland‑Pfalz, Hessen and the Saarland. Garden owners are advised to install rain barrels, consider underground cisterns, apply a five‑centimetre mulch layer, water deeply in the early morning rather than frequently, and protect water‑intensive trees with slow‑release water bags. Switching to extensive lawns that tolerate drought is also recommended.

In Carinthia, Austria, farmers such as Adrian Reichhold and Andreas Planegger report prolonged dry spells and insufficient rain despite overall precipitation levels. Reichhold says, “Ohne Bewässerung wird es irgendwann nicht mehr gehen.” To cope, they have built irrigation ponds that store rainwater and enable night‑time irrigation of about 25 litres per square metre per week, helping to rescue maize and other crops. They call for collective pond projects to share costs and reduce water loss.