In many parts of the country, homeowners are no strangers to droughts. When planning a drought-tolerant garden, you must design it to be tolerant of low water seasons. Each plant in your Sherman Oaks yard must withstand periods of low rainfall. Without adequate drought planning, you could lose all of your plants and potentially thousands of dollars.
How to Design a Drought-Tolerant Garden
1. Reduce Your Lawn
Grass is one of the least drought-resistant parts of your yard. If you want a more drought-tolerant garden, the first thing to do is reduce the amount of grass you have. Replace grass with garden beds of drought-tolerant plants or other porous ground covers such as stones or rock gardens.
2. Hardscaping and Groundcovers
You can use other drought-tolerant living and nonliving objects to cover your ground. Hardscape elements such as pavers, boulders, or bricks require no water and can create contrast in your space. Additionally, using water-wise groundcovers such as thyme, sea thrift, or moss can bring softness to the edges of hardscaping and help slow water evaporation.
3. Water Features
It may seem counterintuitive for a water feature to help resist drought, but it can help! When properly designed, they can both capture and recycle water. They can be completely self-sustainable and soften the look of other drought-resistant plants.
4. Smart Sloping
Soft slopes can be great for water runoff if you plan strategically. You must place water-needy plants at the bottom of the hill, allowing them to absorb as much water as possible, reducing overall loss. If you have steeper slopes, try creating tiered garden beds that help reduce water waste and erosion in your yard.
5. Drought-Friendly Plants
Some plants are smarter than others. There are many water-wise plants, including lavender, lady’s mantle, goat’s beard, and catmint. These beauties are all high-volume without needing a lot of water. These plants will withstand drought better and won’t use too much water from the hose.
6. Dense Planting
Shading soil helps keep it moist. Providing shade slows the evaporation of moisture in the sun’s heat. So, close plant placement provides shade for soil and reduces weeds and the need for mulch.
Design Scapes – Drought-Tolerant Landscaping Design
We at Design Scapes are experts in drought-tolerant landscape design and implementation. Our expert team has extensive experience in creating beautiful, drought-resistant gardens that keep your water bill low while impressing the whole neighborhood. To learn more, please book a consultation with us!
