Gardening tips for drought conditions

Work with your plants and home gardens during dry times to help them survive and adapt. You can help your plants survive drought conditions by taking a few steps to help them along...

• Mulch, mulch, mulch - Adding a layer of mulch around and near plants will help conserve the moisture that plants do get and will also keep the roots cool.
• Water a little, but not too much - Water if needed but don't over water. Many plants will shed leaves and become dormant to protect themselves. Watering excessively can cause plants to rot or drown. Plants over a year old should have a good root structure and will need less water.
  
• Choose plants suited to your area and pick drought tolerant ones for dry conditions. Lantana, Butterfly Plants and other choices are good for areas that get lots of sun and endure drought better.

Don't be surprised when you lose a few plants during dry times. Some plants just don't do well in hot, dry areas and should only be planted if the right conditions and part shade are available.

News & Observer
September 15, 2007
Debra Boyette, Staff Writer

How to care for your drought-stressed plants

Your impatiens looking a little, well, impatient? Your dahlias drooping?

It's no wonder. Until the last week, temperatures have been in the triple digits, and raindrops have been few. Watering restrictions are in place all over the Triangle. Flowers and other plants are showing signs of stress. What can you do?

"Unfortunately, some plants just won't survive," says Peter Zierz, a Wake County master gardener. But you can take some steps to help your garden grow.

The most important thing you can do is mulch them well, Zierz says. Mulching helps keep the roots cool. It also helps keep what little moisture the plants get from evaporating.

Second, don't add more stress. When times get tough, a lot of plants go dormant in an attempt to conserve energy. Their leaves may even drop off. The tendency is to do something to help them. But leave them alone, Zierz says. Don't fertilize. Don't prune. Don't water. That will just wake them up, cause new growth and add more stress.

If you're watering (on your assigned day and time, of course), don't go overboard. Lawns and shrubs that are less than a year old need an inch of water per week, Zierz says. But don't drench them. You want the water to be absorbed into the soil. Shrubs that are older than a year old probably don't need to be watered now.

If you're thinking about planting shrubs or flowers this autumn, late fall is the best time to do so -- that means November to January in this zone. But keep in mind that new plantings need lots of water to get established. You'll need to keep that under consideration if restrictions continue or get tighter.

Not all plants are having a tough time. "My lantana is thriving," Zierz says.

Lantana loves the sun, and some varieties are perennial. When you're planning your flower beds for next year, think about lantana and other plants that do well under drought conditions. These include salvia, angelonia, geraniums and native wildflowers. Original article...