Let It Grow
By Tammy Thornton
Hot summer days and drooping plants may have you considering a garden of cacti and tumbleweeds. However, by carefully selecting drought-resistant plants, you may save yourself from desert life.
In general, once well-established, perennials have deeper roots than vegetables and annuals, making them more resistant to occasional drought. These relatively deep roots will allow your perennial plants to tap into underground moisture. In times of drought, perennials may take a little siesta and go into survival mode by slowing their growth. Once they receive a nice rain or good watering, they should bounce back but may not reflower until the following season. Annuals, on the other hand, will “bolt” and start going to seed to preserve their legacy for a new generation. However, even among perennials, some are much more tolerant of extreme drought than others.
If you picture a beautiful Mediterranean garden, you can imagine some of the obvious plants that can handle prolonged dry spells and heat. Lavender, rosemary, and Russian sage are must-haves for this type of garden. In fact, not only can these plants tolerate dry periods, they will rot and die if overwatered. When choosing a location for these types of plants in your garden, consider the entire year and not just summer. You will want to make sure that they are well-drained and not receiving the daily watering from a sprinkler. While our sandy South Jersey soil will provide drainage, a layer of rocks or gravel can also aid in drainage, especially if planting in pots. If you are making a container garden, make sure the pots have plenty of holes in the bottom. Keep in mind that plants grown in pots are also more susceptible to freezing temperatures. They may need extra protection in the winter.
Some other drought-tolerant perennial plants to consider are catmint (Nepeta), sedum, purple coneflower (Echinacea), black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia), blanket flower (Gaillardia), pinks (Dianthus), crocosmia (Lucifer), salvia, sea holly, asters, Oriental poppy, verbena (Bonariensis) and yarrow. While perennials are the staples of the garden and generally more drought-resistant as stated, some annuals can also take the heat. Zinnia, lantana, celosia, vinca, dusty miller, and portulaca (moss rose) can stand up to the heat and bring life to a bare spot in the garden.
In addition to using drought-tolerant plants, consider ways to protect your plants against dry spells. Mulch around your plants to help them conserve moisture. A mistake many newbie gardeners make is giving their plants a frequent, shallow shower instead of a deep soaking. These well-intentioned gardeners then wonder why their plants are dried out. Shallow watering will result in shallow roots, but deep watering will aid your plants in growing deep roots that can handle periods of drought. Healthier plants will be more equipped to handle stress such as short, dry periods, as well as attacks from insects or infections. Water your plants early in the morning so they have time to absorb the water before the afternoon sun wastes your efforts. Also, keep in mind that windy days will dry out your plants. Recently, we had a rare day when it was windy and hot, and you could visibly see the plants begging for water. If your plants do suffer damage, prune away dried-out stems and leaves, or the damaged parts will draw energy away from the healthier parts of the plant.
When shopping for drought-resistant plants, you can look for some tell-tell signs to identify them. Succulents and cactus-like plants will have thick, fleshy stems and leaves. Similar to camels, these plants store water for times of drought. Like the other plants mentioned in our Mediterranean group, succulents must be well-drained and should never be overwatered. Other signs of drought resistance are plants with a waxy coating on their leaves, hairy leaves, silvery gray or bluish foliage, narrow leaves, and prickly leaves.
Of course, even drought-tolerant plants must be well-watered until their roots are established. When first planted, the roots will be shallow, and they will be more susceptible to drought and other stresses. Often when transplanting your friends to a new home, they will go into a bit of shock and need to be reassured that you are giving them a comfortable, happy place to live. However, most plants do not like to have their “feet” wet. Though you need to make sure your plants are receiving an adequate amount of water, the key is to also make sure that they are well-drained.
Location can also be key to helping your plants withstand the relentless sun. Flowers that enjoy full sun during the year may suffer during the peak of summer. Moving them to an area of the garden that receives a reprieve during the height of the afternoon may be the trick to protecting these plants. Consider relocating them to a partial shade area that receives early morning or late afternoon sun, but has a bit of shade at noon.
We love to hear from our readers. What are your favorite heat-loving plants in the garden? Kindly send your comments and questions to shorelocalgardener@gmail.com.
Tammy Thornton lives with her husband, children, and crazy pets while enjoying a life of gardening, cooking, and going to the beach.
