Monday, May 10, 2021


Waterwise Flowers, Shrubs, Grasses, and Trees

 

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Years ago when there was a seven-year drought in California, many municipalities offered incentives for starting water-wise gardens. Do you love to travel? Don't have an irrigation system? Is your garden huge or has many trees? In many areas, record-breaking droughts have resulted in mandatory water rationing and incentives for water-wise landscaping that uses minimal irrigation. Cutting down on or eliminating thirsty turf grass, and introducing drought-tolerant plants is a good start.


Depending on your planting zone and with a little research, there are really a lot of blooming plants out there that are low maintenance.  Once they are established, they don’t need much water. 
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FLOWERS:

Yarrow

Salvia

Lupines

Coreopsis

Sedum (All types) 

Portulaca (All types) 

Lavender

Sage Herb

Coneflower (Echinacea)

California Poppy

Globe Thistle

Russian Sage

Orange Day Lily

Lamb's Ears




SHRUBS:

Oleander

Butterfly Bush

Blue Star Juniper

Barberry





GRASSES:

Zebra grass

Mexican feather grass

Purple fountain grass

Blue oat grass

Porcupine grass

Blue fescue




TREES:

Ginkgo Biloba

Shagbark Hickory
American Elm

Hawthorn


Consider these factors when choosing a plant for drought-tolerance, whether it's a tree, a shrub, a ground cover, or a perennial:


Competition for Resources

When you plant under trees, the available resources are scarce because a tree not only blocks sunlight and rainfall, it also takes a lot of water for itself. Weeds and other vegetation can also rob water from a new plant.


Sun Exposure

Always pay attention to sunshine requirements and/or tolerance when planting. You may think of full-sun plants when you hear mention of drought-resistant plants, but there are also suitable plants for dry shade. Moreover, not all sun-lovers tolerate excessive dryness.

The Soil Type
A drought-resistant plant in a wonderfully loamy soil may struggle during a dry spell if it's growing in sandy soil (through which water pours quickly, as through a sieve).


Save as much water as you can.  Look for plants that don’t require much water.  Why not use rain barrels and misters in the garden and landscaping to help conserve water and save on your water bill.

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