Worry-Free Watering

It has been a hot, hot, HOT summer in some regions, and if you live in an area that also hasn’t been receiving much rainfall, or if you’ve had to conserve water due to drought, your plants might be looking a little bit on the fried side.

But there’s good news! Plenty of plants don’t require much moisture at all. If you pick some up now, you’ll have a garden full of gorgeous blooming perennials and happy plants that won’t suffer when the next heatwave summer rolls around. Look for these general characteristics when you're shopping for plants or flowers that require less water:

• Deep roots that resent being transplanted—peonies, for instance.
• Fleshy, thickened roots that hold moisture, like daylilies.
• Silver or gray leaves with waxy or hairy coverings, such as lavenders and dusty miller.
• Thin or narrow leaves. For example, yuccas and many ornamental grasses.
• Fleshy leaves and stems, such as cacti and other succulents.

Keep in mind that even the most drought-tolerant plants still need a steady supply of water while their root systems are forming. The amount varies, but in most cases, it’s about an inch of water a week, either from your hose or from Mother Nature’s rain clouds.

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