Gardening with Sam: Growing a dry garden
Drought-tolerant plants thrive in hot dry conditions. They keep a garden looking fresh, colorful and even lush when rain is rain is rare and water is conserved – just one reason people might want to consider a dry garden.
Choosing the appropriate plants for a dry garden is the first step in growing success. Many water-wise plants grown today originally hailed from the Mediterranean or arid West. It’s not by chance that some plants flourish as the temperature rises and the soil dries out.
These plants might have deep taproots, water-storing roots or leaves or woolly or silvery leaves. All of these adaptations help the plants maximize available water and minimize moisture loss.
New plants need regular watering until they’re established. Water as needed to sustain plants for the first year, and water during dry spells after that.
A 2-inch layer of compost or other organic mulch slows evaporation and helps moderate soil temperatures. Stonecrop as known as sedum, lavender or blanket flower are three good ones.
One good thing in a dry garden: fertilizer is not necessary, so that means less cost for us.
Lots of times you might see rocks and dry bed after the water goes away. Try to use rocks or pea gravel with some color or shades of grey to brown to give a little more color than just white or brown.
