drought

Punishing heat and drought. It’s a combination you wouldn’t wish on your worst gardening enemy. Keeping your landscape alive under these conditions presents a backbreaking and expensive challenge.

While we’ve had some welcome rain this summer, homeowners are still searching for alternatives to minimize their water use, their water bills and the hours spent trying to supplement with hand watering. Luckily, there are alternatives.

No, I don’t mean paving the front yard or filling it in with gravel and 3 cacti. Xeriscaping holds the key to adapting Austin’s landscapes to the changing climate of extremes sweeping the country.

Xeriscaping is a concept that originated in Colorado years ago during a severe drought. It comes from the Greek words ‘xeros’ (dry) and ‘scape’ (view).

It is definitely not “zero” scaping, as some mistakenly call it.  And it doesn’t mean never having to water or care for plants.

It means developing a water-efficient landscape through the use of good planning, appropriate plant and lawn selection, efficient irrigation, use of mulch and proper maintenance.

Texas’ fast-growing population and repeated periods of drought continue to strain the limits of our water supply. Years ago, water rationing used to be a rare measure reserved for particularly hot summers for brief periods of time.

Year-round limitations are now the norm. I’m not sure how long we’ve been subject to continuous water rationing. (Actually, I looked it up – the City of Austin’s restrictions have been constant since September 2012.

So, what are the steps to developing a xeric landscape that will flourish in our extremely hot and dry conditions?

Seven principles of Xeriscaping

1. Good planning

2. Soil analysis

3. Appropriate plant and lawn selection

4. Practical lawn choices

5. Efficient Irrigation

6. Use of mulch

7. Proper maintenance

Plan ahead

Planning is important. Research the best plants and turf to use. Before you begin – think about the water needs of your landscape. If you plan well, you can cluster plants with low water needs together. And have your soil tested to determine if additional minerals or fertilizer might make your plants or soil healthier.  Add necessary amendments and compost when building beds.

Pick native and well-adapted plants

Reducing the amount of turf grass in your landscape and expanding use of native plants can significantly reduce water consumption. Native plants are also generally less susceptible to disease and harmful insects and have less fertilizer or special soil needs. There are plenty of xeric plants from which to choose—trees, shrubs, perennials, groundcovers and grasses—that can provide your garden with color and blooms all year.

A few of the popular native or well-adapted plants for our area include:

• Artemesia
• Salvia
• Lavender
• Santolina
• Gregg’s Mist Flower
• Desert Willow
• Mexican Bird of Paradise
• Dwarf yaupon holly
• Rosemary
• Euphorbia
• Jerusalem sage
• Agaves
• Yuccas
• Cacti
• Skullcap
• Texas Sage
• Blackfoot Daisy
• Daimianita
• Zexmenia

Check with your local nurseries to learn more about other xeric Zone 8 plants.

These websites are also excellent resources:

http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/growgreen/plants.htm

http://www.wildflower.org/

http://npsot.org/

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/

Water wisely

Consider switching to more efficient methods of irrigating. Most sprinklers—both automated systems and hose-end, waste a great deal of water to evaporation. Watering is best done in the very early morning hours to prevent scorch and to minimize evaporation—even before sun-up for early birds or those with automatic systems.

The current City of Austin Stage 2 Watering Restrictions are as follows:

Automatic Irrigation – Residential
Even Address numbers – Thursday
Odd Address numbers – Wednesday
Before 5 a.m. or after 7 p.m.

Hose-end sprinkler– Residential
Even Address numbers – Sunday
Odd Address numbers – Saturday
Before 5 a.m. or after 7 p.m.

Overwatering or watering improperly also present problems. Too much water too often encourages plants to keep shallow roots. Less frequent, deep watering develops deep roots away from surface heat that will eventually require less water.

An excellent option to reduce water use, drip irrigation keeps water next to the plants and allows almost no evaporation. The soil absorbs and uses all the water, whereas sprinklers often saturate soil too quickly, resulting in water runoff.

Collecting rainwater (when we are lucky enough to get it) is another way to conserve. From simple rain barrels placed under downspouts to large commercial systems, using this “free” water is always a good choice, especially since plants prefer natural rainwater to tap water that is chemically-treated.

One turf is not like the other

Lawns can drink up a lot of water. Most xeric landscaping plans minimize the amount of turf in the landscape, replacing it with paths, patios, seating or entertaining areas or xeric beds. Determine the most drought-tolerant grass for your area (sun or shade). Grass should be mowed high, allowing longer blades to help protect the roots from the heat and to hold in moisture. Grass should be mowed when it is about 1/3 higher than you want it to be. Bermuda should be mowed at 1.5 to 2.5 inches, Buffalo Grass at 4 inches, and Zoysia at 2 inches.  Clippings left on the lawn help return nitrogen to the soil, so they don’t need to be collected.

Keep roots cool

Critical to plant survival, mulching beds helps insulate plants, keeping soil temperatures lower and cutting down on evaporation. There are a variety of good mulches from which to choose, including Native Texas Hardwood mulch, shredded cedar, pine needles or other shredded barks.  Several inches of mulch should be applied to ensure sufficient insulation.

Now, maintain it

Proper pruning, weeding and fertilizing helps keep your landscape healthy. Instead of chemicals that can contaminate our ground water, use organic fertilizers and pest control options to address problems that may arise in the garden. Check with local nurseries for good organic choices.

For more information, check out the City of Austin’s Grow Green Program – an extensive water-wise public education program. Grow Green offers an extensive selection of free gardening how-to materials throughout the Austin area. Local nurseries carry the program’s free fact sheets and the very popular Native and Adapted Plant Guide that includes 200 recommended plants that will thrive in Central Texas.

Local Landscape Designer and Garden Coach Diana Kirby provides landscaping tips at http:/www.dianasdesignsaustin.com and writes a garden blog at https://www.dianasdesignsaustin.com

Some of the most drought tolerant plants available to help us achieve those goals are succulent plants. Succulents are plants that store water in their leaves, stems and/or roots and can tolerate extreme drought and heat. Succulents are also ideal for gardeners with limited space and limited time. They are easy-care free plants requiring almost no maintenance.

While succulents are low maintenance, they are prone to rot if overwatered, a common occurrence when gardeners water them on the same schedule as their other plants. According to Casey Limerick, of East Austin Succulents, “the biggest mistakes people make with succulents is giving them too much water and too much sun.” The correct soil is important, too. “We make our own soil blend here,” said Limerick.

Limerick recommends planting succulents in a fast-draining soil mixed with a little bit of sand (not much) and a little decomposed granite.

By now, gardeners are busily planning and planting — trying to get their gardens established before the heat of summer strikes. Our current Central Texas drought status remains an alarming D2 (severe) to D4 (exceptional — the worst category). So Central Texans are still looking for ways to make their landscapes more xeric, eliminate more lawn, and reduce their water usage. By August, even watering potted plants every single day starts to get old.

Some of the most drought tolerant plants available to help us achieve those goals are succulent plants. Succulents are plants that store water in their leaves, stems and/or roots and can tolerate extreme drought and heat. They generally have few insect pests or problems with disease. Many also retain water by transpiration with their waxy leaves or stringy hairs. As an added bonus, they also do well in poor soil.

Succulents are also ideal for gardeners with limited space and limited time. They are easy-care free plants requiring almost no maintenance.

Their thick, juicy stems add interesting structure, texture, variety and color to a landscape. Beware, though, they are also delicious and juicy appetizers for deer.

Not all succulents like full sun. Many of them actually prefer partial shade with bright, but not direct sunlight.

According to Casey Limerick, of East Austin Succulents, “the biggest mistakes people make with succulents is giving them too much water and too much sun.”

While succulents are low maintenance, they are prone to rot if overwatered, a common occurrence when gardeners water them on the same schedule as their other plants.

The correct soil is important, too. “We make our own soil blend here,” said Limerick.

Limerick recommends planting succulents in a fast-draining soil mixed with a little bit of sand (not much) and a little decomposed granite.

More than 50 plant families are considered succulents. Agaves, aloes, euphorbias, sedums and yuccas are just a few of the categories of succulents.

Not all agaves turn into 6-foot-tall monsters that want to eat your entire landscape and spread their pups. There are many much smaller and manageable species that can be used as structural focal points in the landscape and beautiful potted plant arrangements. Some of the smaller agaves suitable for small gardens and containers that do well here include the squid agave, quadricolor agave, Parry’s agave and the regal Queen Victoria agave.

Yuccas are part of the genus of succulent plants and are also within the Agavacea family. While some yuccas may not look particularly succulent, their blooms look like supersized versions of smaller succulents and are often a delicious and juicy appetizer for deer.

Aloes have long been a popular succulent used as houseplants or outdoors. They also have medicinal uses and can relieve burns, treat many skin conditions, reduce bruises and be used in juices to treat indigestion.

Delosperma, also known as ice plant, makes an excellent groundcover and can survive both our heat and our average winters. It is hardy from USDA zones 5-11. It is perfect for xeriscaping and rock gardens or paths.

The euphorbia family includes a range of plants, including poinsettias and cacti. Their milky sap can irritate skin and eyes, and should be planted away from areas used by children and pets. One of the most popular varieties is euphorbia rigida, also called gopher plant, which grows to about 2 feet tall and has vivid yellow blooms in the spring.

Sedum, sempervivum and echeveria are all in the same family. Their starry clusters of flowers come in array of colors, ranging from red to pink, yellow and white. One of the most common sedums is Autumn Joy, which has a more upright growth habit.

Many gardeners will remember their mother or grandmother growing Hen and Chicks — These interesting and hardy plants come in a variety of colors ranging from pink, red, purple and green. They form a rosette (hen) that produces new offsets (chicks) and these clumps will spread and create a low growing and dense groundcover. Interestingly, they are often planted in strawberry pots.

Diana Kirby is a local Landscape Designer and Garden Coach and can be reached at http:/www.dianasdesignsaustin.com. She writes a garden blog at https://www.dianasdesignsaustin.com.

Versatile, drought tolerant as well as deer and critter resistant, there is a salvia perfect for your garden. Whether you need plants that are tall or short, need sun or shade, or you want a certain color, you can find a type of salvia to meet your needs. Find out more about the salvias that thrive in our often difficult climate and conditions. 

Although most salvias appropriate for our area are drought tolerant or have moderate water needs, it’s important to remember, as with all plants, that they are only drought tolerant once established. New plantings require a regular watering schedule during the first growing season to establish the deep, healthy roots that will make them water-wise as mature plants.

Take a stroll through almost any Central Texas garden and chances are you’ll come upon  at least one type of salvia.

Salvia is the largest genus of plants in the mint family, and is also commonly referred to as sage. All sages are salvias; those used for medicinal purposes or as culinary herbs are generally called sages and the name salvia is generally associated with the ornamental plants.

At one time, there were more than 2,000 named species and subspecies. Horticultural revisions have recently consolidated the species to approximately 700 shrubs, perennials and annuals, found all over the world.

One of the most well known of the salvia varieties grown around Austin is the Greggs’s salvia (Salvia greggi). From shades of red to fuchsia and purple, this salvia graces countless area gardens.

The Texas sage, or cenizo, is not actually a sage, or salvia. The sage attached to its name is a trade name for the Leucophyllum frutescens. Nonetheless, it, too, is a great water-wise plant. The cenizo, with its gray leaves and lavender blooms is often relied upon by gardeners to foretell of coming rains, as they bloom profusely before or after a rain.

Versatile, drought tolerant as well as deer and critter resistant, there is a salvia perfect for your garden. Whether you need plants that are tall or short, need sun or shade, or you want a certain color, you can find a type of salvia to meet your needs.

The following are among the salvias that thrive in our often difficult climate and conditions. There are many more – staff at your local independent nursery can guide you to even more choices.

May night salvia (Salvia nemorosa ‘Mainacht’ ) A very compact salvia, it has wider leaves than most of those we see in Central Texas and a short bloom of dark purple or almost black. It can grow to 18 inches tall and approximately 15- 18 inches wide. It is water-wise and self-sows freely. Because of its size, is a good choice for containers.

Mexican bush sage (Salvia leucantha) – This salvia prefers full sun, tolerates ordinary soil and is drought tolerant. Its gray-green leaves are fuzzy and topped with blooms of light purple or lavender. Some varieties also have purple and white blooms. It generally grows to about 2.5’ feet tall by 4 feet wide.

Forsythia sage (Salvia madrensis) – This majestic salvia likes partial shade here in our heat. It grows to 6-8 fee tall and 24 to 36 inches wide. Its Blue-Green leaves are topped with very long bright yellow blooms and it is a fall bloomer. It has average water needs.

Tropical, “coral nymph or scarlet sages (Salvia coccinea) – These shade-loving varieties come in white, red, pink and peach blooms. The light colors provide a bright splash of light in a shady garden. They will tolerate dry soil and will grow in the worst of our Central Texas conditions — caliche, sandy loam or clay.

Indigo spires salvia (Salvia ‘Indigo Spires’)– A vigorous plant, Indigo spires towers over most other salvias and boasts 12 to 15 inch spikes of dark violet blooms. Blooms appear in spring and continue through fall. It will reach 4 feet tall and 2 to 4 feet wide, likes full sun to light dappled shade and has average water needs.
Hot lips salvia (salvia microphylla ‘Hot Lips’) This sun-loving salvia can steal the show in your garden with its hot red and white blooms.  It grows to 3 feet tall and wide and flowers summer through fall. Drought tolerant and perfect for xeriscaping, its vibrant blooms also draw hummingbirds and butterflies.

Amistad salvia – (Salvia PPAF ‘Amistad’) – The stunning, rich and deep purple blooms of this plant make a real statement in the garden and put on a dazzling display from spring until frost. At 3-4 feet tall and about 3 feet wide, it can grow in full sun or dappled shade. This is a new plant introduction by Southern  Living that is growing in popularity in Central Texas. It requires moderate watering and is heat and drought tolerant, excellent characteristics as even some drought-tolerant plants simply can’t take our heat when it hits record-setting highs. I first saw it at the Garden Writers Association meeting last fall in Tucson, and fell in love with it.

Although most salvias appropriate for our area are drought tolerant or have moderate water needs, it’s important to remember, as with all plants, that they are only drought tolerant once established. New plantings require a regular watering schedule during the first growing season to establish the deep, healthy roots that will make them water-wise as mature plants.

Diana Kirby is a Landscape Designer and Garden Coach and can be reached at http:/www.dianasdesignsaustin.com. She writes a garden blog at https://www.dianasdesignsaustin.com.

Our recent drought has made more than a few homeowners reconsider the composition of their landscape. Lawn replacement choices run the gamut from low-maintenance beds to welcoming patios, paths ad dry creeks to enticing features like water features, play spaces, gazebos and fire pits.

While xeric or drought-tolerant plants require less water, all plants need to be watered. When planted, they will require regular watering for several months to get them started, but will then be less thirsty than other non-native or adapted plants. In addition to flowering plants like lantana, salvia, yellow bell, damianita, skullcap, plumbago, catmint, and blackfoot daisy, to name just a few, many xeric grasses and sedges can also be used in a smaller area en mass to create a grassy, non-traditional green space. Groundcovers and creeping plants can also be used to take up lawn space – some of those that work well here include Asian jasmine, sweet potato vine, silver ponyfoot, purple heart, wooly stemodia and a variety of thymes.

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center (www.wildflower.org) center maintains an excellent database of native plants — their needs and characteristics – that grow well in Central Texas.