Water Wise Gardens

 

A rockery is the ideal spot to plant groups of drought tolerant plants. They all do well in full sun, poor soil, dry conditions and need very little care and maintenance.

A water wise garden includes mostly those plants that thrive in hot dry conditions but are easy to care for and don't require a great deal of water or maintenance. Some drought tolerant plants are gray in color: they include lambs ears, artemisia, lavender, rosemary and Salvia. All of the native or alpine plants, woody herbs and some creeping ground covers all do well in full sun. They've adapted to many harsh elements, have survived well on their own with little water or nutrients so do very well in a water wise garden. The soil is often dry, sandy, rocky or heavy clay so search for the plants that tolerate all types of soil. Native plants grow in fields, ditches, meadows or along country roads have survived well in nature for a very long time by adapting. You can take a walk along a railroad track and see what grows there naturally and take note of what flowering plants do grow all on their own. Day lilies are one of the most drought tolerant plants and come in many colors.

 

For a new location you want to make sure it looks natural so arrange your rocks randomly to form planting pockets, with winding pathways that invite people to walk among the plants and explore. If it slopes slightly use gravel or bricks on pathways or edges to help hold soil in place. Flat stones should be placed in among the flowers to allow you to weed or walk into the garden for harvesting herbs or blooms or for pruning. Ornamental grasses also do well and will only take a year or two to become established. Include some spring flowering, mid summer and late summer blooming plants to have color all year round. Sedum blooms in late summer and lasts until the cold frost in November. Giant Iris blooms in June, while Shasta Daisy is in full glory in July to August. You might want to plant a few annuals that do well in full sun to add some more colors. Try petunia, portulaca and snapdragon.

 Globe thistle tolerates full sun and is another drought tolerant plant. It's blue globes are easy to dry for making dried flower arrangements.