How to Maintain a Healthy Lawn During Drought (Drought-Friendly Landscaping)

How to Maintain a Healthy Lawn During Drought (Drought-Friendly Landscaping)

Water is an essential part of a healthy lawn; we all know that.

But...

Local restrictions or hot summer droughts can significantly impact an otherwise healthy lawn and garden.

You might be wondering if your favorite plants will even survive the summer.

Don’t be disheartened; maintaining a healthy lawn during a drought doesn’t have to be difficult. People have been developing drought-tolerant landscapes for decades.

There are many solutions you can use to maintain a beautiful lawn in low-water situations. If you want help in a hot, dry market, compare lawn care in Phoenix, AZ. Best of all, maintaining a drought-tolerant garden doesn’t have to be expensive.

More importantly, creating a drought-tolerant lawn can simplify lawn care. This home improvement can mean less stress for many homeowners.

What techniques can you use to save your landscape in the heat of a drought?

Let's find out...

Know your climate.

One of the most important things to consider when making a healthy lawn is the climate in which you are growing.

Is your lawn or garden full sun, part sun, or shade?

How much rain will your garden get?

What are your soil conditions?

Here's the thing: understanding your climate before planting new plants in your landscape can save you time and money and get you the results you are looking for.

Be sure to know the answers to these questions before using this next step...

Select climate-appropriate plants

If you are worried about your garden surviving a drought, here is some good news!

Once you understand your climate, there are hundreds of plants that you can survive with very little water.

For your Garden, choose drought-tolerant plants like,

• Roemer's false indigo
• Hummingbird bush
• Square-bud primrose
• Butterfly bush
• Tall grasses
• Cactuses
• Succulents

Those, of course, are just a few. Here is a great list of  drought-resistant plants.

For your lawn, select drought-tolerant grass seeds such as,

• Bermuda Grass
• Buffalo Grass
• St. Augustine's Grass
• Rye Grass
• Seashore paspalum

There are many drought-tolerant grasses to use in your lawn; this website has a wonderful list of grasses and other solutions for drought conditions.

Add Pollinator Plants

Get by with a little help from your friends!

A wonderful way to maintain a healthy ecosystem in your garden is to use plants that attract pollinators.

Planting pollinator plants invites some of the hardest workers in nature to give you a helping hand in maintaining your landscape.

Best of all, they will add some additional color, even when your plants do not.

Water Wisely

But wait, there's more...

Watering wisely is a major part of maintaining a healthy lawn and garden when water resources are strained.

Using a few techniques to make the best of your water usage can really help you do a lot more with your limited water resources.

Keep in mind the following four things:

1. Watch the weather. If it’s going to rain, then save the water and let the rain do the work.
2. Wait! Water only when needed—wait until your grass begins to show signs of drought before watering.
3. Water deep—water less often, more deeply. When you do water, really drench your garden and lawn.
4. Water on time—Water on a regular schedule, and always water in the early morning, before the sun rises; this prevents evaporation by giving the water time to soak into the soil.

If you cannot water often enough or just can’t maintain a watering schedule, you can always install an irrigation system with a timer. If you’d rather hire help for irrigation or other outdoor work, start here: How to Request Landscaping Services using Your Free GreenPal Account.

By the way, irrigation systems don’t have to be expensive, and water timers are a great way to water without having to think about it.

Mix native and adaptive plants

Every region has unique native plants and flowers. Not only does using native species preserve your area's ecology, it is a great and inexpensive way to add some color to your garden.

Even better, native species will thrive with little care, attention, or water.

There are some great search engines to help you find native plant species in your area; here are two:

1. Native Plant Finder
2. Wildflower center

You see, using these search engines can help you to find native species that will really thrive in your area.

If there aren’t many native species in your area, or just not any that suit your needs, adaptive species are a great alternative. 

Adaptive plants are not invasive, nor are they native, but they will be able to thrive in your soil and climate conditions.

Your local nurseries will have a great selection of adaptive species, best suited for your area.

Choosing Between Native and Adaptive Plants

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between drought-tolerant and drought-resistant plants?

Drought-tolerant plants can survive with minimal water, while drought-resistant plants can endure even longer dry periods without watering.

What drought-tolerant plants are best for hot climates?

Plants best suited for hot climates include aloe vera, agave, bougainvillea, and desert marigold.

How do I know if a plant is drought-tolerant or drought-resistant?

Check plant tags for water requirements or consult resources like local gardening centers or university extension programs, which provide information on plant drought tolerance.

What time of day is best for watering my garden during a drought?

The best time to water your garden during a drought is in the early morning, before sunrise. This timing helps reduce water loss due to evaporation and allows water to soak into the soil more effectively.

What is the best mulch for conserving water in a drought-tolerant garden?

Organic mulches like wood chips, straw, or decomposed leaves are fantastic for keeping your garden's thirst quenched. They do an excellent job of locking in moisture and reducing water loss from evaporation, and they'll also contribute nutrients to the soil as they break down.

What are the maintenance benefits of drought-tolerant landscaping?

It reduces the need for frequent watering, mowing, and fertilizing, which lowers both your effort and the costs associated with landscape upkeep.

Quick Tips for Drought-Proofing Your Lawn

In Conclusion

These are just a few tips for maintaining a healthy landscape during a summer drought. 

Use the techniques in this article and our other articles to maintain that great landscape that you and your family can enjoy all summer long.

You can learn more about saving water in your landscape with these 9 Proven Ways to Save Water in Your Garden

If the drought got to your lawn already, don’t worry it can be revived!! Getting your Grass Green After a Drought

Thank you to  Livinglandscapesmatter.com for the graphic that inspired this article.