Today’s Garden Ideas

It seems as the years go by we are receiving less rain and snow. This not only leads to a lower water table and community water restrictions but in some cases severe drought. The key to maintaining a beautiful garden under such harsh conditions is utilizing drought resistant grass, plants, and flowers.

Choosing Your Plants

First you want to choose plants that are naturally drought resistant. In warmer climates cactus and succulents do very well of course. Colder climates can support such plants as Edelweiss, Japanese Quince, or Musk Rose.

Making Your Own Drought Resistant Plants

Plants with deeper roots will thrive much better is drought conditions as they are able to use water located deep under ground. The best way to develop deep roots for a plant is to keep them in containers when they are young and allow the roots to spiral around the container. Be sure to prune back all the roots that grow out of the container holes. Once you have an extensive root system, dig a hole the length of the root and plant in the ground. Water deeply and frequently by soaking the area around the plant. This will further encourage the plant root to grow down instead of out. Once these plants are established and growing, gradually decrease your watering. This will force the plant to search out water for itself. Eventually you can stop watering completely and the plant will be able to survive on its own even in the worst drought conditions.

Be sure to add compost to your soil before you plant. This will help retain water and help the water to seep deep underground to your drought resistant plant’s roots. Mulching regularly will also help reduce water evaporation. Another trick to keep plants moist is soak old newspaper with water, place around your plants and then cover with mulch, hay, or some other organic matter. Or you can add lime or gypsum to your soil as this will alter the soil structure and allow water to travel deep.

Other suggestions that may help to keep plants moist is to use trickle irrigation as that makes the best use of water. Or recycle water from your bath, shower, or sink. Just be sure there are no harsh chemicals or detergents in the water that might harm the plants. Water in the early morning rather than during the day or at night. This is when the soil is coolest and will maintain its moisture best.

Plant Varieties

Do not think you have to sacrifice hardiness for beauty. There are many lovely drought resistant plants to be found in your area.
Some standard drought resistant flowers that combine hardiness and beauty include Statice a lavender, pink or blue annual flower commonly seen dried in flower bouquets, Sedum which has gold or orange flowers, and Leopards Bane which has yellow daisy like blooms.

So do your research, prep your plants for the lean dry months, then sit back and enjoy the riot of colors in your garden while your neighbors have only dirt and brown lawn spots to gaze upon. You will be the envy of all.

PLANTS FOR A DROUGHT RESISTANT GARDEN
TYPE	PLANT	DESCRIPTION
	Red Valerian	H: 3ft, S: 2ft; red or deep pink bliims from late spring to fall; flourishes in poor, exposed conditions; zones 5-9
	Statice (Limonium Sinuatum)	H: 18in, S: 12in; perennial grown as annual; lavender, pink or blue flowers appear above wavy-edged, green leaves in mid-summer to early fall; good for drying; annual; all zones
	Sedum Palmeri	H: 8in, S: 12in; clump forming evergreen; spoon-shaped leaves; gold or orange, star shaped flowers in early summer; zones 8-10
	Pincushion Flower	H: 3ft, S: 12in; upright, bushy plant with fragrant, red, pink, purple, white or blue blooms from early summer to early fall; annual; all zones
	Bottlebrush (Callistemon Citrinus)	H: 10-15ft, S: 8ft; tree-like shrub with bright red, 6in long flowers in early summer; Lemon scented, copper foliage matures to gray-green; zones 8-10