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Drought-Tolerant Plants for Low-Maintenance Landscapes
Climate change continues to affect the planet․ Throughout the world‚ the frequency and severity of droughts are increasing‚ and the decreasing availability of water is affecting not only agriculture‚ but also the design of gardens and other landscapes․ As a result‚ many environmentally conscientious gardeners have begun to select drought-tolerant plants for their gardens․ These plants complete a sustainable gardening cycle because they offer beautiful‚ low-maintenance gardens which use scarce water resources in an efficient way‚ while using relatively little effort to maintain․ This essay describes some drought-resistant plants and how to use them in the garden‚ so that we can create a beautiful space even in the driest climates․
Hardy Plants That Thrive in Dry Conditions
A busy gardener may want to consider low-care drought-tolerant plants when developing a landscape plan․ A drought tolerant landscape allows the gardener to create a beautiful and interesting landscape without spending the time and energy that would be necessary for a traditional landscape․ Native plants are often suited for such conditions․ They are more adapted to local conditions‚ saving on additional watering or irrigation once established․ Lavender and yarrow are examples of popular garden plants․ Both plants tolerate poor soil conditions and attract pollinators like bees and butterflies․ They can allow for an attractive garden to be created‚ without the gardener being required to spend their day watering and caring for the garden․
Hardy drought-tolerant plants such as succulents‚ including agave and sedum‚ should form the backbone of a drought-tolerant landscape․ They have interesting shapes‚ colors and textures that help create a unified whole․ Some members of the family are adapted to arid conditions due to their ability to store water in their leaves․ Ornamental grasses such as blue oat grass and feather reed grass are often used in gardens for their textures and movement․ However‚ if carefully selected and arranged‚ such perennials can bring a sense of timeless beauty and diversity to any landscape‚ able to withstand the elements and the vagaries of climate․
Best Plants for Hot, Sunny Gardens
If you are looking for plants that will not wilt in full sun‚ lantana‚ salvia‚ and blanket flower are a few of the best plants for hot sun gardens․ Plants with large flowers‚ mostly in warm colors‚ that bloom in hot weather are popular․ Lantana is another plant with bright flowers‚ and it is popular with butterflies and hummingbirds․ These plants produce brightly colored flowers during the entire summer‚ are relatively drought resistant once established‚ and are an excellent choice for gardeners with limited water supplies or those interested in reducing their water consumption․ If heat-loving plants are chosen‚ a garden can remain colorful during the hottest and driest parts of the year․
Water-Wise Plants for Lasting Color and Beauty
Water-wise plants provide long-lasting contributions to the landscape and need very little water․ California poppies‚ cosmos‚ and many other plants are highly tolerant of dry conditions and are among the most efficient choices for color in the landscape․ These flowers can take the extreme cold and heat and produce them in quantity‚ and would be suited to any garden plan․ Herbs‚ such as rosemary and thyme‚ would add beauty and come to hand in the kitchen․ With the right combination of water-wise plants‚ a person can create a drought-tolerant landscape that provides fragrance‚ flavor‚ and beauty‚ regardless of what climate change may hold for the future․
In conclusion‚ drought tolerant plants are an attractive solution to the current problems we face with water shortages and climate change‚ and a garden containing low maintenance hardy and native plants can still provide beauty and enjoyment as well as surviving in an arid environment through their capacity for self-sufficiency․ With the great variety of choices available now‚ this important factor is making it possible to design gardens that are lush and beautiful without excessive dependence on water and lush foliage․ With each step into the future it becomes more feasible to expand garden design to include a balance of both functionality and beauty․ One way to start bringing us towards a more sustainable‚ more just world is to start with our gardens and plant choices․
