Drought-tolerant trees can withstand dry conditions once established. No native or commonly used landscape plant is drought-resistant until it becomes established in the site. All plants require a steady supply of moisture when first planted.
Trees can tolerate drought if they are deep-rooted. Deep roots can harvest soil moisture from past rainfalls. Trees planted in the landscape should be deeply watered for the first two or three years before they can become full drought resistant.
Roots follow moisture in the soil; deep watering will result in deep roots. Surface watering–the water you might give a lawn or perennial plants–will be insufficient to sustain mature trees. Avoid shallow-rooted trees and increase drought tolerance by watering trees deeply until they are well established.
Stephen Albert is a horticulturist, master gardener, and certified nurseryman who has taught at the University of California for more than 25 years. He holds graduate degrees from the University of California and the University of Iowa. His books include Vegetable Garden Grower’s Guide, Vegetable Garden Almanac & Planner, Tomato Grower’s Answer Book, and Kitchen Garden Grower’s Guide. His Vegetable Garden Grower’s Masterclass is available online. Harvesttotable.com has more than 10 million visitors each year.
Rhodotypos–commonly called jetbead or black jet bead–is a deciduous shrub that grows rounded and arching. It bears large, papery, four-petaled flowers from spring to summer. In autumn the flowers give way to shiny black berries. The persistent black berries give Rhodotypos its common name jetbead. Rhodotypos is easy to grow and is well suited for…
Autumn-blooming perennials will keep the garden full of color until frost and cold weather arrive. Though comparatively few in number, autumn blooming perennials offer an abundance of blooms and a brilliance of colors. You could easily devote an entire garden to autumn-blooming perennials. Autumn-blooming perennials are best planted in spring and early summer, but with…
Hardy is a term used to describe a plant’s ability to survive in a specific climate zone—even through the cold of winter. Commonly gardeners use the term “hardy” to describe a plant that can survive a freeze, frost, or a cold snap. Half-hardy is a term used describes plants that can survive only limited or…
Cercis–commonly called Redbud–is a mid-size deciduous tree. It produces masses of pink or rosy to purplish flowers in early spring, offers shade in summer, and is bright yellow in fall before leaves fall. Redbuds can be planted as a specimen, seasonal accent, and near the patio and small lawns. Cercis–redbuds–is a genus of deciduous shrubs…
Rhapis–commonly called lady palm–is a reedlike palm whose stems appear in clusters. Rhapis has fronds that are fan-shaped and divided lengthwise into narrow green leaves that can be blunt-edged or pointed. The shiny bright green fronds are divided into five to eight leaves up to 9 inches long and 2 inches wide. Indoors. Rhapis grows…
Liriodendron — commonly called tulip tree–is a fast-growing, pyramidal-shaped tree that bears tulip-shaped flowers in spring. Liriodendron is deciduous. The leaves are squarish and blunt-tipped looking a bit like a saddle. The leaves turn from bright green to bright yellow in autumn. Liriodendron’s flowers appear in late spring. They are greenish-yellow and orange at the base. They…
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