Drought Tolerant Garden
So, after really grasping that August and September are months of drought in the PNW, I decided to plant up a nice big bed of drought tolerant plants. By planting just before the fall rains began, I knew these babies would have a chance to get well-established and do great all summer long.
Most of the plants I chose are sort of gray and fuzzy, a way to help them preserve moisture. And being the thrifty gardener that I am, I simply divided my perennials out back and placed them in large groupings in the the front side yard. Since we only had a light mist that day, I watered them in thoroughly, resolving not to drag the hose out to these little guys ever again. One dousing and that was it. By the middle of next summer, there should be lots of lovely pinks and purples lining the length of my neighbor's fence!
Thrify tip: To convert a large area to garden, plan ahead. For this 10-15x40 ft area, I layered newspaper and cardboard (that were headed for the recycle bin) over every square inch and then hailed the arborist to dump his load of chippings after he took down my neighbor's damaged tree. I spread the not so lovely chips out 3-4 inches thick. The arborist was glad to unload, I was glad for the free mulch. It sat for about 2 years, decomposing from the bottom up. I spot treated the few weeds that popped up and last week planted a few hundred starts. By pulling back the mulch, digging a small hole and inserting the transplant, I had an instant garden. Free is a very good price. Let's see how it looks next summer!
Rose Campion-Lychnis coronaria
Pearly Everlasting-Anaphalis margaritacea
Yellow Yarrow-Achillea 'Moonshine'
Obedient Plant-Physostegia virginiana
Lamb's Ear-Stachys byxantina
Lavender-Lavandula
An un-named rambling rose
Meadowsweet-Filipendula rubra
Remember, large beds, massive plantings.
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| Young drought resistant plants settle in all winter long... |
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