TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL DROUGHT-TOLERANT GARDEN

 

 

 

 

 

  1. Place drought-loving plants together to create a low-watering zone in your garden.
  2. Choose your plants carefully. Drought-tolerant plants will either flop or die in soils that are too rich, have inadequate drainage, or are heavily fertilized.
  3. Amend your soil with good organic matter (e.g., compost) before you plant to retain moisture. If you have heavy soil, amend with grit or pea gravel to improve drainage.
  4. Substitute ground covers in areas where it is difficult to grow turf; particularly shady areas or narrow sections of your yard.
  5. Space plants properly so that they do not compete with each other for root space, water, or nutrients.
  6. Water wisely. Water early in the morning before the heat of the day to minimize evaporation.
  7. Water deeply and less frequently as opposed to shallow and frequent watering. Deep watering means deeper, more efficient root systems on your plants.
  8. Mulch your garden not only to suppress weeds, but also to retain moisture. A 2-3 inch layer of mulch is more than sufficient for most areas of your garden.
  9. Weed your garden frequently in the spring.
  10. Most plants take 1-2 years to establish a good root system. They will need to be watered conscientiously during the first year to establish a healthy root system.
  11. Do not fertilize water-stressed plants. The salts in the fertilizer will burn the weakened, water-deprived roots.
  12. Use water-retaining polymers (e.g., Terra-Sorb™) in your container plantings to absorb and hold water.
  13. Look for 'reduced maintenance' cultivars and blends of turf grasses, including Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) and fine fescue (Festuca rubra) cultivars that have been bred for turf. They tend to have deeper root systems than other turf grasses and will require less water.
  14. Have fun designing with drought-tolerant plants. They come in all shapes and sizes and offer a nice selection of textures and colors to experiment with in the garden.

*Courtesy of Century 21 Lois Lauer Realty

 


* Specific loan program availability and requirements may vary. Please get in touch with your mortgage advisor for more information.