By Bill Watson
Drought Tolerant Plants
Areas of your garden that face West or South naturally tend to
be much hotter and receive much more direct sunlight.
Taking a little time to choose the right plants for these
demanding growing conditions can help save you time, money, and
water, as well as improve your overall results.
Most plants will require more water under high heat/sun
conditions unless they’re native to one of the desert regions,
or when established, tend to be drought tolerant.
A deep watering program in high heat areas can help conserve
water, and still promote healthy, vigorous growth.
Tip: Young plants, or fresh plantings, will require time to
grow into their drought tolerant status. Root systems need time
to expand and become established, and that length of time will
depend in general upon plant type, variety, and the watering
method you choose to employ.
Mulch
Adding a thick layer of clean mulch on your garden beds, will
help to conserve moisture, and protect a plants roots from
temperature extremes. Ground bark, straw, or compost, are some
of the organic materials used for mulching.
Apply a 1 to 2 inch thick layer of mulch on top of the soil and
around plants. A mulch can be applied at any time during the
growing season, however, mulching early in the season, just
after preparing the soil and planting, will provide the most
benefit.
South facing walls or fences tend to absorb and reflect intense
solar heat, and so will add to theses demanding conditions.
One method used to offset this situation, is to train
heat-resistant vines to grow and cover, south or west facing
walls, and so prevent the suns heat from being absorbed and
reflected into the garden.
Another option, is to provide small areas of shade throughout
the hottest areas of your yard. Planting small garden trees or
dwarf varieties suitable to your local region, will tend to
moderate temperature extremes within their local areas.
Not all heat-resistant plants are drought-tolerant. Most
annuals will require at least 1 inch of water per week.
Drought-tolerant plants, in general, will have deeper root
systems, and due to their natural environment, have developed
the ability to thrive under low moisture conditions.
The following, are examples of the most successful and widely
available plants that are heat resistant:
Annuals: Zinnias, Marigolds, China Asters and Salvias.
Vines: Bougainvillea (all), Hibbertia scandens (Guinea Gold
Vine), Rosa (climbing), Wisteria.
Shrubs: Calliandra, Callistemon (Bottlebrush), Hibiscus
rosa-sinensis, Lantana, Pyracantha.
Trees: Citrus (all), Fig (edible), Magnolia grandiflora, Prunus
caroliniana (Carolina laurel Cherry), Pyrus (Ornamental Pear).
Also, most herbs tend to thrive under high heat and light
conditions. Examples of these would include, Lavender, Rosemary,
and Sage to name a few.
Drought tolerant plants are excellent choices for areas and
regions that receive little rain, and are well-suited for areas
with high heat and light conditions.
The following, are widely available examples of drought
tolerant plants:
Annuals & Perennials: Achillea (Yarrow), Aloe, Coreopsis,
Gaillardia (all), Portulaca grandiflora (Rose Moss), Salvias,
Verbena.
Vines: Bougainvillea, Wisteria.
Shrubs: Acacia (many), Callistemon citrinus (Lemon
Bottlebrush), Crassula argentea (Jade Plant), Lagerstroemia
indica (Crape Myrtle), Lantana.
Trees: Acacia (many), Eucalyptus (most), Fig (edible), Walnut.
Taking time to choose plants that suit your local environment
or growing conditions, will help to ensure positive results and
provide a healthy landscape that will thrive for many years to
come.
Good Luck and Happy Gardening!
About the Author: With over 20 years of gardening and
landscaping experience, Bill now shares his tips and advice on
creating and maintaining lush and healthy home gardens. Visit
his website at www.your-healthy-gardens.com/
Source: www.isnare.com
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