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.
Hummingbirds are attracted to bright colored flowers, especially red and orange. The hummingbird’s primary diet is flower nectar. They can hover like bees in front of tubular or trumpet-shaped blossoms, probing with their long needle-like beaks to extract nectar. Hummingbirds are very territorial, so plant several patches of their favorite flowers if you want to…
Stewartia is a genus of deciduous shrubs and trees that have something for all seasons. Stewartia has green leaves in spring, white camellia-like flowers in summer, colorful foliage in autumn, and a distinctive branching pattern after leaves fall in winter. As well, Stewartia are often grown for their peeling gray and red-brown bark. Stewartia is…
Some annuals and perennials are easier to start from seed than others. Sow all seeds with some care. Seeds sown in the open garden should be planted in well-prepared loamy soil; add plenty of aged compost to the planting area in advance. The soil surface should be light and find; this will allow roots to…
Tamarix — commonly called Tamarisk–are grown for their attractive, feathery foliage of small needle-like leaves and racemes of small pink or rose flowers. They are large shrubs and small trees that grow in windy locations, salt spray, and poor or sandy soil. They can be used as a windbreak, exposed hedge, and in seacoast gardens. Tamarix can be…
Parkinsonia–commonly called Jerusalem thorn or Mexican paloverde–is a deciduous tree with a picturesque open growth habit that admits light, dappled shade. In spring Parkinsonia bears racemes of fragrant, bright yellow flowers with orange-spotted petals and orange-red stamens. Parkinsonia is quick growing to about 30 feet (20m) high and 15 to 25 feet (5-8m) wide. Foliage…
Winter doesn’t mean your shrubs and trees stop needing water. Even when temperatures drop, dry soil, frozen ground, and desiccating winds can stress plants, especially evergreens and newly planted trees. After decades of gardening in Sonoma Valley and cold Iowa Zone 5 winters, I’ve developed practical winter watering strategies that work in both warm and…
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