The dry season is well upon us. Here in Tennessee we haven’t seen a drop of rain in two weeks and even that was only .12 inches (at least in our garden). I’m not sure how long the plants can hang on without a good dose of liquid from the sky. And despite my repeated waterings the plants are suffering. My poor ‘Shasta’ Viburnum has foliage that looks much more like a contorted filbert.
In times like these it’s good to have a foundation of plants set that are drought tolerant. Fortunately I have a few! Here’s a short list of the plants in my garden that so far have not been stressed by a month of Tennessee drought conditions. Their performance may vary depending on the quality of the soil.
My Drought Tolerant Shrubs and Trees
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| Caryopteris ‘Longwood Blue’ |
- Oak Leaf Hydrangea
- Caryopteris
- Crape Myrtle (smaller and younger ones are stressed but the established ones are fine.)
- Witch hazel
- Butterfly Bush
- Kerria
- Yew ‘Densiformis’
- Spirea
- ‘Arrowwood’ Viburnum (‘Morton’)
There are many kinds of drought tolerant trees and shrubs available and in many cases going native is the best option. Although you can see from my list above several plants that are doing well are not even from our area at all but are fairly adaptable to the Tennessee garden climate.
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Even my pecan trees seem to be suffering. I can't remember when I last had rain but I don't think it was this month. Mine are so puny in spight of my frequent waterings with the sprinkler.
It's rainy season in here. By the way, Im from the Philippines. Plants are doing well in there.
Cassy from Guitar Playing Tips
Dave, some of my plants make this one you showed today look very healthy. I am concerned about what might not make it. Sprinklers and garden hoses are running there arse's off everyday, sigh.
I think I've lost a camellia I put in last February, with so much hope for it. I have so much territory to keep watered and am not interested in cranking my water bill up too high. I usually let plants tough it out, but I'm sad about some of the losses.
Becca,
It's just hard to keep up with all that needs watering isn't it!
Cassy,
Send some rain here please!
Darla,
I haven't quite reached the hose stage yet. I'm hauling buckets of water though to my most precious plants that aren't drought tolerant. Hoping for rain this weekend…
MKM,
I understand completely. That water bill can soar. I hope you don't lose too many plants!
Had to quit with the sprinkler. Trees are even suffering here. My plants are on their own. Only when first planted did I dare to water. Briers seem to do great tho. lol
Trying to get rid of Dew Berry briers. Any suggestions?
We've had less than 2 inches of rain all year. We usually get 8 per year here in the desert. We've had temps above 110 for the last three weeks, and so many plants are looking really bad and dying off, even though the drip system waters them daily.