We envision a resilient world dependent on the thoughtful cultivation of plants

Drought Roadmap for Gardeners: Plants

Articles: Drought Roadmap for Gardeners: Plants

Contributor

Jennifer de Graaf

PLANTS INTRODUCTION

While in interior design the drapes can clash with the sofa and nobody gets hurt, in the garden when we design and make both aesthetic and technical decisions, we’re impacting living things and interdependent systems. We affect ecosystems and watersheds, not just our little patch of ground.

Similarly, when a building is constructed or the inside is redone, that design work is probably at its best on Day One. But a garden at its best is the result of years of informed care. The input of skilled landscape design, thoughtful installation, and informed long-term care all make contributions for a garden to really shine.

It doesn’t matter if this year is a drought year or one with abundant rainfall. If your garden is an investment meant for long-term gains, it needs to be able to weather drought conditions as well as take advantage of abundant rainfall. Since we can’t control the weather, our best bet is to plan for drought conditions and be ready to make use of those years that are less stressful water-wise.

It might seem like a good start to merely select drought-tolerant plants or buy the suggestions on the many plant lists out there. In the context of drought and working for the health of our plants and gardens, there are many more variables for us to consider. The individuality of our gardens and our circumstances demand more forethought. We will discuss how the characteristics of the plants we choose affect our water use in the garden. We will look at things like longevity, planting seasons, the right plants for the right places, and other technical aspects of plant selection; the aesthetics and personal preferences of plant selection are up to you.

The plant section of our drought guide is a big one with big plans. We hope to nurture it along with the other sections so that your plant selections can grow up to be heartily resilient and rewarding. This section is not merely about what to plant, but also how we think through those choices, what various plant characteristics mean in the context of drought, and also how we might need to edit our gardens and let some things go.