Prepare for dry conditions with these water-wise techniques and native plants
Ask any Texas gardener about the summertime of 2011 and you are likely to get a loud groan followed by several lamentations . A yr of extreme drought , 2011 fetch many gardener to their knees . The Southern Plains states have had drought seasons since then , but 2011 cross off a important shift in the way multitude plan their landscapes . With many locations now experience more frequent and/or more severe droughts , it is wise for gardener to project ahead for teetotal times so that our garden can best weather them . So what can we do ? Here is a rundown on drought survival of the fittest for Southern Plains garden .
Drought survival strategies
The following action can make your garden more likely to survive ( and even thrive ) during time of drouth :
These actions are particularly helpful in vegetable garden :
Plant selection is key
to successfully garden through more frequent drought , we have to centre carefully on works selection . There are a act of outstanding drouth - resistant species , many of which are aboriginal to our part . These native coinage were thriving in our climate and in our stain long before mass showed up with garden hoses , so they are naturally able to thrive with less auxiliary water . Here are just a few object lesson of beautiful , humble - piss , drought - liberal species .
Perennials
Shrubs
Ornamental grasses
Vines
Ground covers
While you sure enough do n’t have to convert all your plant to xeric species , it ’s a bang-up melodic theme to incorporate some of those species into your garden as the opportunity reserve . Do you have a works that required too much extra water , time , or deal during a hot summertime ? Consider substitute it with a drouth - tolerant choice . measured plant survival , along with the adoption of basic drouth - survival strategies , can serve our gardens weather frequent drought .
— Karen Beaty is a horticulturalist at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin , Texas .
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Western ironweed will carry your garden through dry periods while providing a lot of color and interest.Photo: Karen Beaty
Consider swapping sprinklers for drip irrigation to save on water and to target plants more specifically. The tubes of the irrigation system will be largely hidden once this garden is filled in.Photo: Karen Beaty
Growing your vegetables together in blocks or circles conserves moisture. Pictured is ‘Kolibri’ kohlrabi.Photo: Michelle Gervais
Texas blazing star is a tall-growing perennial with distinctive bottlebrush foliage and flowers.Photo: Karen Beaty
Turk’s cap brings some light to the garden with bright green leaves and vivid red flowers.Photo: Karen Beaty
Despite its cultivar name, ‘The Blues’ little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium‘The Blues’, Zones 3–10) incorporates shades of deep red among its blue foliage in autumn.Photo: Michelle Gervais
Crossvine’s bright flowers may look red, orange, or even yellow.Photo: Karen Beaty
Liriope’s charming purple blooms are surrounded by an awning habit of grasslike foliage.Photo: Brittany Carlson
