Choose Plants That Need Less Water For A Low Maintenance Garden
We recently helped you get to know your edible outdoor greens, but if you’re looking to grow—not eat—your plants and your thumb is anything but green, here are a few low maintenance options.
Photo by Ingorrr.
National Geographic’s Green Guide focuses specifically on the low water variety and recommends avoiding hibiscus species and impatiens. Both come from tropical, rain-heavy regions, which means they’ll need more water.
Instead, the article suggests going with lambs ear, rosemary, or lavender, all of which can survive on less water—lowering the cost of maintenance both in terms of water usage and time required to keep your plants healthy.
The American Gardener’s David Ellis, quoted in the piece, says that native species are generally better at surviving on less water than exotic plants. He suggests avoiding “rapidly growing tropical plants with soft, pithy and fleshy trunks.”
The article also offers some suggestions for choosing low water maintenance lawn species, so hit up the full post for more.
Drought Resistant Gardening [National Geographic's Green Guide]
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Comments (AU Comments | US Comments)
i agree with the main article, i'll be covering this in my gardening blog soon as i have this problem in several parts of my own garden.
[irish-oriental.blogspot.com]
Even in AZ rosemary grows like a weed with the smallest amount of water. I just moved in to a house that has had the water shut off to it for months and the rosemary bush in back is still out of control.
I planted 3 container gardens this year. [www.poweredbytofu.com] Typically, a container garden requires more water than an in-ground garden because it doesn't have the same insulation. However, we put a heavier mulch/soil layer in the boxes and it seems to be retaining moisture quite well so far!
@infinitemonkeys: Those are good tips! I also advocate those when I can.
You have some control over the water requirements of the plants as well. Planting in good soil, loose and rich down deep allows you to water less frequently, so long as you water deeply when you do.
Grass, for example is notoriously water hungry. Lots of turf owners water a little but frequently. Not only do more watering occasions make more opportunities for diseases to infect your plants, but it trains the plants to look for water on top of the soil. Watering less frequently, but more thoroughly teaches the plant there is more water down further in the soil. The plants not only need less water, but are better able to survive if you leave for a week or more and forget to arrange automatic watering.
Though, I first recommend you not have a lawn if you can landscape with xeriscape plants, but if you do have one, water until you can cut a hole with a spade or knife and touch about 10" deep in the soil. If your fingertips feel moist (not wet), then you have watered sufficiently. Water that much each time but less and less frequently until you start to see the grass stressed, then go back to a little more watering and you have the perfect maintenance watering amount.
As with the above recommendations, choosing the best plants for your climate is also important.
With all of the water restrictions and work....it's hard to find time to feed the plants....or even your own children for that matter.
Luckily it usually works itself out. The plants die and child services take the kids away. God Bless America! =D
pvtryan2
I know this isn't quite on track, but I'm gonna ask any way. Can anyone recommend a grass/turf that sets down roots fast and deep?
Archnemesis_Goldenhair
For more information, go here:
[www.highcountrygardens.com]
Lambs ear will take over if left to its own devices. I like it, but I tend to have to pull a lot of it out when it tries to spread. Lavender is more attractive and well behaved, in my opinion.
rynanza
You can also try a product like SoilMoist - [www.soilmoist.com] We've used it in containers with great success!
wublub
what about biodiversity? planting only low maintenance species instead of regional different species don't look smart to me
dolphinik
Grow plants native to your region. They are adapted to the local climate, soil and pests. They provide food and cover for native wildlife. To find low/no-maintenance plants that will do well where you live, visit the Wildflower Center.
dontodd