Dealing With Drought
More than half of the water used at your home is for outside purposes. Studies show that on average, half of the water used outdoors is wasted. The leading cause of waste is incorrectly set and poorly managed irrigation controllers. The second biggest cause of wastage is broken irrigation equipment that goes undetected. There are a few basic things you can do to make a big difference in your water use.
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Common name:California Poppy, Golden Poppy
Botanical name:Eschscholzia californica
This small annual (sometimes acts as a perennial) plant will grow to less than 1' tall and has light, small blue green leaves with gold and orange flowers that bloom in spring and summer.
Common name:Dark Leaf Aeonium
Botanical name:Aeonium arboreum 'Zwartkop'
Aeonium arboreum 'Zwartkop' is a succulent perennial that is used for accenting effect. Aeonium arboreum grows 3' tall and wide. Each branch has a 6"-8 " wide rosette of dark green, fleshy leaves.The flowers are yellow in clusters.
Common name:Desert Marigold
Botanical name:Baileya multiradiata
Desert Marigold is a fast growing annual or biennial, forming clumps of soft woolly gray leaves. It has bright, yellow daisy-like flowers that appear spring through fall. Flowers will rot with too much water, as this plant is heat and drought tolerant. Flowers top at 12". Deadheading will prolong bloom; this plant makes great cut flowers. This plant will reseed itself but needs good drainage. It needs full sun but is very cold hardy.
Common name:Fendler's Sundrops
Botanical name:Calylophus hartwegii fendleri
Woody perennial shrub/groundcover 1.5' tall by 3' wide. Creamy yellow 1" flowers spring thru fall, summer blooming will drop off. Evergreen low desert but hard frost will die back to ground. Spreads by rhizomes. Can do well in containers. Full Sun or some shade. Prefers good drainage. Leaves are narrow. Cut back periodically to regenerate growth & flowers. Flowers open morning yellow turning orange & pink as they die. Tx.,NM,Az,Mx 4500-7000' grasslands and mtns.
| Designer: Various | Rainwater Gardens C1 |
Photographer: GardenSoft |
Soils and Compost:
Practice grass-cycling by leaving short grass clippings on lawns after mowing, so that nutrients and organic matter are returned to the soil.
Water Saving Tip:
Be sure to fix all leaks promptly no matter how small they may seem.
Integrated Pest Management:
Attract, or buy beneficial insects such as ladybugs and lacewings to control pest outbreaks in your garden.