Caring for Drought-Resistant Plants: Everything You Need to Know
Posted on: 23 June 2020
Have you heard that drought resistant plants don't die? Unfortunately, this isn't correct. Your efforts to be environmentally friendly and conserve water could be futile if you don't know how to care for drought-resistant plants. Here is what you need to know.
What Does Drought Resistant Mean?
These are plants with a built-in ability to maximize water uptake and minimize water loss. Some plants have reduced leaf areas and bear small leaves or needles to help reduce water loss. Some have large leaves and deep indentations between the lobes in the leaf to reduce leaf area.
Other drought-resistant plants have heavy accumulated wax or fine hairs on the surface of the leaf. The wax conserves water, while the fine hairs on the leaves trap moisture on the leaf. For some, deep roots help them pull moisture from deep below the soil surface.
Preparing for Drought-Resistant Plants
If you're about to get drought-resistant plants, you'll need to create a water-wise landscape. Consider the following in your preparation.
Recognise Site Variations
Different areas in your landscape vary significantly in terms of exposure to light, soil type, shade, wind, moisture levels and evaporation rate. For instance, sandy soils dry out quicker, while clay soils retain moisture for longer. Sun exposure can exacerbate the effects of a dry microclimate.
Select Site-Appropriate Plants
After recognising the site variations, now choose plants that will survive and thrive under specific site conditions. A poor match might result in poor performance of the plant or even plant death.
Group Similar Plants Together
Group plants together that have similar needs. While all of them might be drought resistant, all plants have different needs. For instance, group the fragile plants that demand more water during establishment together.
Caring for Drought-Resistant Plants
Drought-resistant plants still require care. Here are some ways to ensure their survival.
All Plants Need Water
The fact is that while your plants are drought resistant, they're still going to need some water. Your newly installed plants need more water than established ones do. If you add your new plants close to existing plants, your current irrigation systems may not sustain your new plants. You need to compensate for this with individual plant irrigation to avoid overwatering any existing plants.
Too Much Water Is Unhealthy
Most people tend to panic when they see a plant wilting and end up over-watering it. However, an overwatered plant also wilts. Check the difference in the leaves before you panic. A plant with sufficient water will be moist, while a plant with insufficient water will be crispy.
Choose a Native Plant
When buying plants, ensure you do your research and pick varieties that are native to your specific location. Plants differ in terms of sun resistance, salt resistance, required moisture level and more.
Newly installed plants have a higher mortality rate due to transplant shock. Seek the services of a professional when choosing, preparing for and installing your drought-resistant plants to reduce the chances of your plant's death.
Share