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.
Sciadopitys, commonly known as the Japanese umbrella pine, is a unique and ancient conifer species that has survived since the Mesozoic era. Its scientific name, Sciadopitys verticillata, refers to its distinctive “whorled” needles that resemble the spokes of an umbrella, giving the tree an unmistakable aesthetic. Native to Japan, Sciadopitys is beloved for its striking,…
Chamaerops–commonly called dwarf fan palm or Mediterranean fan palm–is a bushy palm with bluish or grayish-green leaves. It has multiple stiff, spiny stems that emerge from a fiber-covered base. At the top of each stem is a dark green, fan-shaped frond. Each frond is divided into many sword-shaped sections. Chamaerops is one of the hardiest…
Kalopanax–commonly called castor aralia or tree aralia–is a deciduous tree with a spreading, round habit. Kalopanax bears large palmately lobed leaves that can exceed one foot (30cm) in width. Kalopanax also bears large terminal, umbel-like tiny white flower panicles in late summer. Tiny black fruits follow the flowers and are quickly eaten by birds. Kalopanax…
Ginkgo is an Asiatic genus of hardy deciduous trees represented notably by one species, Ginkgo biloba, often called Maidenhair tree because of its attractive foliage that resembles in form that of the popular Maidenhair fern (Adiantum). Ginkgo biloba tree grows to 35 feet (10.6m) tall with a characteristic diagonally upright form and flowers in loose…
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…
Black walnut, Juglans, is a deciduous tree. It has a wide-spreading, ruggedly picturesque outline growing to 75 feet tall. Plant walnuts in large open areas–open lawns, park, or large field. Juglans is a genus of deciduous trees commonly called walnuts. The genus includes the Black Walnut, Butternut, and some strains of the English or Persian…
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