How to Landscape With Drought-Tolerant Plants
In gardening, plants considered drought-tolerant are those that can survive two to three months without supplemental watering. The ability of plants to survive on natural rainfall alone is a boon for many gardeners trying to grow landscape plants in hot, dry climates. Landscaping with drought tolerant plants may also mean a dramatic reduction in your home's water bill. Whatever your reason for choosing drought-tolerant plants, you are sure to find a number of plant varieties to meet your needs. Some of the most popular drought-tolerant plants include blanketflower, agave, pampas grass, rose campion and palm trees. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Drought tolerant plants
- Shovel
- Spade
- Peat moss
- Perlite
- Garden hose
- Watering can
- Natural mulch
Instructions
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Select drought tolerant plants that are native to your area. Consult an associate at your local garden center or nursery to determine which drought-tolerant plants grow best in your USDA plant hardiness zone.
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Choose full-sun planting locations for your drought-tolerant plants that receive six to eight hours of direct sunlight each day. Select planting locations for your drought-tolerant plants that also provide well-draining soil.
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Amend the soil at your chosen planting locations with peat moss and perlite to aerate the soil and help it conserve moisture. Work the peat moss and perlite into the top 12 to 15 inches of soil until the amendments are evenly distributed.
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Plant your drought tolerant plants in your landscape at the same level they were planted in their nursery containers. Use your hands to pack down the surface of the soil around your plants.
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Water your drought-tolerant plants generously after planting to wet the roots of your plants and settle the soil. Continue to water the plants in your landscape as often as necessary to keep the soil evenly moist during the first growing season, when your plants are working to establish themselves in their new location.
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Maintain a 3-inch layer of pine straw, bark pieces, wood chips or other natural mulching material on the surface of the soil around your drought-tolerant landscaping plants. Mulching the soil around your drought-tolerant plants will help them conserve moisture.
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Tips & Warnings
Consult the information tag included with your drought-tolerant nursery plants for specific planting and cultivation requirements.
Drought tolerant plants must be watered regularly until established. Failure to provide adequate irrigation for newly-planted landscape plants may kill them.
