With drought conditions expected in the Pacific Northwest again later this year, I wanted to share some tips on how to create water-wise landscape designs and maintaining a healthy garden while being mindful of water usage.
1. Analyze your site environment
Understanding your garden’s specific conditions, such as soil type, sun exposure, and moisture retention, will help you make informed decisions about plant selection and watering practices.
2. Select appropriate plants
Choose plants that are most likely to thrive in your existing environment with the least amount of supplemental water. I like to use a variety of plants that offer a combination of interesting flowers, foliage, and growth patterns. For instance, I recently designed a garden on a sunny slope above a rock retaining wall. The fast-draining soil there meant plants needed to withstand dry conditions, so I planted a combination of Cynara scolymus (Artichoke), Berberis thunbergii ‘Concorde’ (Concorde Barberry), Helictotrichon sempervirens (Blue Oat Grass), Cistus salviifolius (Sageleaf Rockrose) Rock Rose, and Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Prostratus’ (Trailing Rosemary). All of these plants thrive in dry summer conditions and tolerate wet Pacific Northwest winters. New plantings will need more water initially, but once established, they’ll flourish with minimal supplemental watering.
3. Water deeply
Saturating the soil encourages new plantings to develop robust, more comprehensive root systems, allowing them to draw moisture from deeper within the soil. Shallow watering, however, leads to shallow roots that dry out quickly and require more frequent watering. Preventing plants from wilting is important, as stressed plants are more susceptible to disease and infestation.
4. Mulch generously
Applying a generous layer of mulch on top of the soil helps seal in moisture and insulates roots from heat, reducing the need for water.
5. Prune regularly
Cutting back overgrown perennials and shrubs reduces the overall plant mass, which in turn reduces the amount of water a plant needs to stay healthy.
I hope these tips help you to keep your garden thriving all summer long so you can sit back, relax and enjoy the fruits of your labor no matter what kind of garden you have.
Need more ideas? Contact me for a design consultation to learn about landscape design or how to maximize the impact of the plantings for any spot in your garden.