Do you envision having a beautiful lawn all year round but feel challenged due to periods of drought? Well, there is hope! With careful planning, there are a variety of choices that would make anyone think you are a landscaping genius. This may be easier on your pocket than you think.
Let’s Start
Think of your yard as a blank canvas, noting where it is sunny, shady, and all areas of partial shade. Focus on the different seasonal climate, including times of rain or drought. Drainage should be considered in wet times and moisture in dry periods.
Soil condition is another consideration. Different plants like different types of soil, so identify your kind of soil and the pH level. Also, know your planting zone when choosing your plants to ensure they will be happy and thrive.
Graph out your bedding areas. Having shade beds as well as sunny ones will give variety to your landscape.
Don’t forget the lawn. There are many types of grass available, so give this some thought and consideration. Good lawn questions are:
- What kind of grass looks attractive in all seasons?
- Will it survive dry periods without heavy watering?
- Will the lawn need to be reseeded often?
- Does the grass choice compliment my garden format?
Recommendations For Drought Tolerant Grass
Once again, making an all-season approach to this decision is important.
Tall Fescue, Sheep Fescue, Buffalo Grass, and Wheat Grass do well in cooler seasons while Bermuda Grass, St. Augustine Grass, Zoysia Grass, Centipede Grass, and Bahia Grass do better in warmer climates. You may want to check with a local landscaping company to know which kind of grass meets your criteria.
Decorative Mulching
Really, is there such a thing?
Think of the mulch as the skirt of your plant with the plant being the body. It does have a visual impact on your garden and it will help you conserve moisture. The things to consider when choosing your mulch are:
- Will it cut down on weeding?
- Will it hold moisture?
- Is the pH compatible?
- and does it enhance the visual appeal of my plants?
Drought Friendly Plants
The plants are the show-stoppers of your garden and they also add value to your home with good garden maintenance.
The market provides a great selection of full sun, partial sun, and shade plants that tolerate dry conditions. Reference your landscaping company to determine what types of plants will thrive in which garden area of your yard.
Color does not have to be sacrificed. You can have a vibrant wildflower garden or a flowering cactus rock bed. Spikey-leaf succulents add drama and taller grasses bring fluidity in the wind. Many of the flowers attract pollinators such as butterflies and hummingbirds. In fact, the butterfly and hummingbird bushes are among the plants that are listed for drier conditions.
Many of the plants are perennial. Check to see when each plant flowers to create stunning visual effects.
Another suggestion is to create a tiered bed using a fence as a backdrop and planting lower growing plants in the front and graduating the height. A mix of annual and perennial plants can be fun but remember to plant the annuals with easy access for cutting.
Garden Maintenance
Make it easy on yourself by considering maintenance in the planning stages. Mulching helps to keep down the job of weeding. Buried soaker hoses tend to cut down on moisture loss especially if timed to water in the early morning. Sprinkles for the lawn should also be timed for early morning or late at night, giving the water time to wet the soil before evaporation.
When mowing, use a higher setting for your blade. This will also help conserve moisture. Most grasses will have a slow growth rate in environments of high heat or dry periods so leaving the blades longer does not necessarily mean more mowing. During the dry season, try to keep foot traffic to a minimum to reduce damage to the grass.