The fact that there are so many options for what to plant is one of the most fascinating aspects about gardening. Think of blooming annuals and perennials, succulents and cacti, or herbs and other delicacies as a starting point. However, certain plants in these groupings are more resilient than others to withstand heat waves, cold snaps, and other harsh weather conditions including severe storms and droughts. Regardless of where you live in the globe, you may design a stunning landscape with plenty of variation and flair. Simply use these guidelines to choose plants that will flourish in the most challenging circumstances.
Give Your Garden a Wild Makeover
The wildness of nature is what it wants to remain. Because of this, maintaining a well-kept yard may cost a small fortune and require a great deal of backbreaking labor. Even so, you will likely still lose certain plants—such as tulips that thrive in the cold or acid-loving azaleas—that are particular about their growth environment. However, chances are good that you’ll notice numerous plants flourishing in your local nature preserve without the need for human intervention like watering, mowing, or pruning. Many of these hardy plants would be as content to thrive in your own backyard.
Typically, the hardiest plants are indigenous species that have endured thousands of years in your region, making them well suited to the growing conditions there. Compared to non-native plants like daylilies and hostas, they often have larger and deeper root systems, which enables them to access water deeper in the soil and resist less than optimal growth circumstances like heat waves and drought. Additionally, by holding the soil in place better with their extensive roots, strong rains reduce soil erosion. But when it comes to cultivating robust native plants, the more you can imitate nature, the better.
For example, natural prairie plants grow best when arranged shoulder to shoulder; this way, they can support one another during heavy rains or severe winds. Native to the Midwest, switchgrass may sometimes fall over when planted alone, but when combined with other plants or planted in large groups, it can grow to a considerable height.
However, closely spaced plants may unnecessarily compete for scarce water in dry areas. In other words, if you want to use less water in your landscape, you would have to water them more often to keep them all happy.
In addition, a lot of native species differ from the original plant in terms of size, color, and other attributes. For instance, penstemon is a common garden plant that is a native of North America and a perennial blooming plant that tolerates dryness. “After it’s fully established, it can withstand heavy clay soils and remains healthy throughout hot, humid summers and unpredictable winters,” explains Dean Dietrich, gardener at Richmond, Virginia’s Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. He loves to grow ‘Dark Towers,’ a penstemon type with burgundy leaves instead of plain green and pink flowers instead of white, taking advantage of all that hardiness but yet wanting some additional color.
Although native plants and their variants are among the hardest-working and most robust plants you can cultivate, some of them have a tendency to go out of hand. Before introducing a new plant to your garden, it’s a good idea to find out whether it’s deemed invasive or aggressive in your area, whether it’s native or not.
Annuals or Perennials?
While annuals develop from seed, blossom, and produce more seeds before dying off in a single year, perennials are plants that survive for two years or more. When possible, it’s a good idea to cultivate perennials rather than annuals, such as hostas, black-eyed Susans, and catmint, which die back to their roots every autumn and resprout in the spring. Because you won’t need to purchase new plants every year and because perennials often withstand greater damage from drought, extreme temperature changes, and other events than most annuals, it will save you money. Perennials have easier regeneration, thanks in part to their larger root systems, even in cases when severe weather knocks them back to the ground.
When compared to cultivating annual crops like tomatoes, squash, and lettuce, this guidance also applies to perennial fruits, vegetables, and herbs. For example, fragile herbs like cilantro or basil are not as drought-tolerant as common sage and thyme. In addition to producing more fruit than a family could consume in a single season, brambles like blackberries and raspberries can endure strong winds because to their wiry stems. Asparagus and rhubarb will grow back every year, even if they have a dry spell or an unexpected cold snap. Feel free to produce annual vegetables and herbs, but while you’re at it, consider include some more hardy foods.
Drought-Resilient Choices
Drought conditions affected more than half of California between 2011 and 2019, according to drought.gov. Many state residents were forced to reconsider their lush green lawns due to the ensuing water restrictions. “Here in Southern California, it has become well-accepted we need to adjust our landscapes to be better suited for not only our current climate, but also the climate that will be our future, and this actually broadens the possibilities of what our gardens and yards can look like,” Andy Siekkinen, a botanist and grower San Diego.
For many Californians, this entails growing more drought-tolerant plants—a water-saving strategy that gardeners nationwide may also adopt. Succulents and cacti are great examples of plants that can survive without much water; species like prickly pears, beehive cactus, and Adam’s needle may give an area a Southwest appearance while being durable even in the Upper Midwest. However, a large number of other trees, shrubs, and perennials are also drought-tolerant.
Generally speaking, seek for plants native to drier areas, such prairies and Mediterranean climates. These species are known for their sluggish growth, leathery or thick leaves, and fragrant resins. Slower growth means fewer pests, less watering, and little to no pruning. This group includes several robust plants that are even edible, including lavender and rosemary.
Hard Trees
Since trees serve as focal points in most gardens, you should choose long-lasting species (particularly since falling branches may cause harm to both your house and landscaping). Trees not only add beauty to your landscape and provide shade, but they also benefit the environment. Planting trees may help filter groundwater, enhance its quality, and reduce erosion and runoff, according to the USDA Forest Service. Additionally, planting one or two trees in your yard may help lower your yearly energy costs. According to the Center for Urban Forest Research, planting a single tree on the west side of your home will save your energy costs by 3% over the course of five years.
Even the hardiest trees may sustain significant damage from severe weather, but the most resilient ones develop more slowly and provide denser wood. In a few short years, trees such as poplars, mulberries, and maples provide shade, but because of their rapid development, their wood is often weaker and more prone to decay. In addition to using more water, their rapid growth also draws more nutrients from the soil. Slower-growing trees, such as pollinator-friendly lindens and drought-tolerant oaks, are better options.
Since oaks and lindens are big groupings of trees that include both native and non-native species, your best approach will typically be to plant native plants. White oaks, for instance, are endemic to the eastern half of the nation and have adapted to temperatures as disparate as those found in Maine and Texas. In addition, they are essential to the survival of the surrounding fauna. In the Mid-Atlantic area, the bark of the tree serves as a home to over 500 different kinds of moths and butterflies, and certain bird species have been known to eat the acorns of these trees.
Redesigning your landscape entirely is not necessary when gardening in a climate that is becoming more and more unpredictable. Alternatively, you may construct a long-lasting garden that benefits the local ecology by making a few wise substitutions to more hardy species. When purchasing new trees, shrubs, and perennials, be careful to choose plants that will flourish regardless of any severe weather conditions you may encounter.