What You Need to Know Before You Create a Drought-Tolerant Garden

When it comes to landscaping on your property, why go with a boring lawn? If you think about it, the boring and basic lawn is unsustainable. How are you going to turn heads and outdo your neighbors if it’s nothing more than just cutting grass? It always helps to add some personality to your garden. It’s actually one of the greatest things you could do for your garden, really! 

With that said, however, just as lawns are unsustainable, you can expect other types of landscaping to be pretty non-eco-friendly, either. What’s really going to help is focusing on a drought-tolerant garden. There’s less water involved, so you’re saving money and work. But before you jump in, you need to take some factors into account. 

You Need to Understand What Drought-Tolerant Means

First things first, you need to get clear on what drought-tolerant gardening means. It’s all about choosing plants that can thrive with minimal water. This doesn’t mean your garden has to look like a desert! There are countless vibrant, lush plants that fit the bill. Think of it as smart gardening—using resources efficiently while creating a space that’s both beautiful and sustainable.

So, even if you dislike that Mediterranean style, that’s fine because not all drought-tolerant plants are Mediterranean, the Indian Laural plant is a great example of this, so is the Anthemis flower too. So you can still have a desired style for your garden, so just don’t feel limited. 

Know Your Climate and Soil

Before you start picking plants, you’ll need to first take a moment to understand your local climate and soil type. Are you in a region that experiences long dry spells? Is your soil sandy, clay-heavy, or somewhere in between? How prevalent is climate change? Are you beginning to notice that droughts are happening more frequently? How about heatwaves? This knowledge will guide your plant choices. 

For example, succulents and cacti are fantastic for arid climates, while Mediterranean herbs like lavender and rosemary do well in a variety of conditions. Again, it’s best to take climate change into account, but also, how are your winters? Are they harsh? Drought-proofing your garden is meant to be eco-friendly, but it technically doesn’t get the job done if you have to buy new plants every year to replace the dead ones. 

You’ll Still Need to Do Maintenance 

You might not have to water as much, but there are still plenty of other things you’ll need to get done instead for your garden. While yes, it’s definitely true that maintaining a drought-tolerant garden is relatively easy compared to traditional gardens. So, you’ll need to regularly check for weeds, as they can compete with your plants for precious water.

You’ll still need to prune your plants to remove any dead or unhealthy growth, which helps them conserve energy and stay robust. And don’t forget to enjoy the process—gardening is as much about the journey as it is about the end result. While maintenance can be a bit annoying, in the end, it’s definitely worth it!