Make the most of limited water with these drought-tolerant landscaping ideas.
Don’t let water use restrictions or a lack of rain put a damper on your garden dreams.
Plenty of beautiful plants thrive in dry conditions, andxeriscaping techniquescan help you make the most of limited moisture.
Credit: Jon Jensen
Use these simple drought-tolerant landscaping ideas to create a beautiful yard that won’t need watering all the time.
Replacing at least part of your lawn with water-wise plantings will help you create a more drought-tolerant landscape.
Here, pretty beds ofdrought-tolerant perennialsnear the house and sidewalk take the place ofthirsty grassin this front yard.
Credit: John Granen
That way, the moisture has a chance to be absorbed by the soil instead of running off.
Alayer of mulchbetween the drought-tolerant plants also helps reduce water loss while suppressing weeds.
Manyplants that have gray or silver foliagehave excellent drought tolerance.
Credit: Laurie Black
These include the santolina, lamb’s ear, lavender, and Russian sage growing in this garden.
Rely on Water-Thrifty Plants
This drought-tolerant garden uses severalwater-saving strategies.
A mix of tough but colorful perennials such as the red-floweredpenstemondon’t require much supplemental moisture to thrive.
Credit: Edward Gohlich
Severalvarieties of evergreensthat don’t mind dry conditions offer structure, height, and color.
An oversize boulder fills in a gap between the plants, adding an unexpected focal point.
The closely spaced plants also crowd out weeds,reducing the need for mulch.
Credit: Kritsada Panichgul
Here, a small raised pond with a fountain dresses up this water-wise yard.
Go for Groundcovers
Usegroundcovers as a living mulchto slow water evaporation in your drought-tolerant landscape.
These low-growing plants also can help minimize water runoff from hardscaping such as steps and sidewalks.
Credit: Andre' Baranowski
Plus, they add welcome color with their blooms.
Make the Most of Mulch
Mulch is essential for creating a water-saving landscape.
In this garden,gravel serves as an inorganic, low-maintenance mulcharound drought-tolerant succulents and grasses.
Credit: Jerry Pavia
Plus, the gravel makes a permeable walkway, helping to prevent water runoff.
But they can also become a lush oasis with the right water-wise design.
Design Water-Smart Slopes
A steep slope can be challenging when it comes to managing water run off.
Credit: Mike Jensen
This tiered garden bed offers asolution to a sloped area.
Large rocks, groundcovers, and asturdy raised bedon one corner work together to reduce water loss and erosion.
Plants from drier areas of the world,such as lavendershown here, also are naturally quite drought tolerant.
Credit: Holly Lepere
Just be sure to group plants with similar watering needs and light requirements together for best results.
This allows you to target a smaller space for extra watering instead of having to water your entire garden.
Credit: Jamie Hadley
Credit: Lynn Karlin
Credit:Bob Stefko
