With the summer temperature rising and water being a valuable commodity, most gardeners fear their gardens will turn brown and dry. The good news is that you do not need a thirsty garden to be beautiful.
Hot and dry conditions have not only allowed plants to survive but also enabled those that flourish to provide colour and texture throughout the season. The architectural verbena bonariensis is one such, with its long, slender stems and purple flowers, which are so attractive to butterflies.
To create a strong and beautiful landscape that gardeners can use, the first step is to find the proper plants. The Plant Company is a great place for a New Zealand gardener, offering a range of tough plants well-suited to local conditions.
Why Choose Drought-Tolerant Plants?
Plants adapted to the dry climate are a clever approach to the contemporary garden.
These choices have more than water-saving advantages.
- They are low-maintenance and therefore require less watering and care once they are well-established.
- In many cases, they are pre-engineered to endure other adversities such as wind and bad soil.
- Their importance: They are a source of vital food and habitat to pollinators in the hottest months when their resources might be limited.
Top Picks for a Stunning, Dry Garden
The list of appealing drought-tolerant plants is quite enormous, including structural shrubs and flowering perennials.
- Lavender (Lavandula ‘Hidcote’): This is a typical plant found in hot, sunny places and is a small, evergreen lavender bush. It features lush, perfumed purple flower spikes that are ideal for edging paths or gardens, requiring minimal water.
- New Zealand Flax (Phormium ‘Emerald Gem’): This Phormium is the best performer in a bold, architectural structure that can easily manage dry spells. Its deep green, strappy leaves give an intensive vertical aspect to borders and containers, and it endures wind and coastal conditions wonderfully.
- Lomandra ‘Tanika’: It is a rough grass that forms clumps and is a stalwart in dry areas. Its lush, evergreen leaves provide a year-round touch and movement, and it is incredibly tough, resisting drought, winds, and frost.
- Pomegranate (Punica granatum): The pomegranate tree is a nice choice in terms of edible beauty. It grows in long, hot summers and well-drained soil. Although it yields more and requires the occasional deep watering, established trees are exceptionally drought-tolerant and will yield a seasonal harvest.
Tips for Success with Dry-Garden Plants
Even drought-resistant plants require a good start. The secret to winning is to ensure that they have the acute drainage they desire. Enhance water flow by adding compost or gravel to amend heavy clay soil. Mulching around the base of plants will help conserve vital soil moisture and keep roots cool as well.
Above all, offer deep and less frequent watering in their first season to promote a robust, prairie-like root system that can find water independently.
You can have a garden that is not only beautiful beyond words but also remarkably tough, simply by planting naturally adapted plants that are better suited to withstand the heat, thus giving you more time to enjoy it throughout the summer.
