How to plan a drought tolerant garden

How to plan a drought-tolerant garden

Creating a drought-tolerant garden requires careful planning and smart choices. Here are some tips to help you adapt to changing climates:

Choose wisely:

Consider the specific needs of different areas in your garden. Opt for plants that are already drought-tolerant, like lavender, Agastache, and Salvia.

Mediterranean plants can handle hot, dry summers, but they can struggle with prolonged cold or wet conditions.
Alpine plants, on the other hand, can withstand sub-zero temperatures and constant sunshine.
Remember the mantra “right plant, right place.”

Plant with care:

Select smaller plants and allow them time to adapt to your garden’s conditions.

Before planting, soak new pots in water until no air bubbles rise, then thoroughly water them.
Avoid excessive fertilisation and feeding, as lush growth can be more vulnerable to extreme weather.
Apply a mulch around plants, keeping it away from the stem, to retain moisture and suppress weeds.

Rethink your layout:

Evaluate how you use your outdoor space and consider rearranging it to benefit both you and your plants.

For example, if you have a shaded patch of lawn that struggles to thrive, consider moving shade-tolerant plants there instead.
Additionally, explore alternatives to lawns, such as gravel gardens or sedum carpets, depending on your needs and preferences.
All gardens have microclimates within them, as different areas receive varying levels of shade, rainfall, and wind shelter. Use them to your advantage.

Cultivate your soil:

Improve soil structure and water retention by incorporating organic matter.
Use homemade compost, mushroom compost, well-rotted manure, shredded bark, or leaf mould to enrich your soil.

Weed strategically:

There’s a change of view on weeds happening, with some gardeners considering them as plants in the wrong place, Chelsea flower show was awash with ‘weeds’ this year.

Consider reclassifying some plants as wildflowers, especially if they add colour and attract beneficial insects.
Remove plants, whether weeds or misplaced, that compete with your desired plants for moisture and nutrients.

Managing pots:

While planting directly into the soil is preferable for drought-tolerant gardening, well-placed pots can still have a role.

Opt for less, but larger pots to reduce drying out.
Choose non-porous materials like glazed or metal pots to minimize evaporation. loss.
Ensure pots have drainage holes, and place a saucer or dish with a layer of gravel at the bottom to retain some water. Use a compost mix rich in organic matter to retain moisture.

For guidance on caring for an existing garden during dry spells, please find another useful article here.