Soil moisture content and plant water status of young clonal tea plants were affected differently by five different types of mulches (black plastic, stone chippings and three types of grass) when compared with a control without mulch. During prolonged droughts, soil moisture content was generally highest under Napier grass and black plastic but any type of mulch was better than no mulch in conserving moisture to 90 cm depth. Tensiometer data at the onset of rains after an unusual prolonged dry season suggest that the infiltration was fastest under grass mulches. After four years of continuous application grass mulches had significantly most effect on water holding capacity, but induced shallow rooting systems, which made the mulched tea more susceptible to drought.