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.
Zelkova is a deciduous tree grown for its handsome spreading shape and autumn color. Zelkova belongs to the same botanical family as the elm tree and is used as a substitute for the disease-plagued American elm. Zelkova is a good shade tree; it grows at a moderate to fast rate and eventually reaches 60 feet…
Ulmus is a genus of deciduous trees commonly called elms. Elms are commonly grown as shade trees. They are fast-growing and have high-spreading canopies. Elms are environmentally tough. But elms have notable drawbacks. They are shallow-rooted making it difficult to grow other plants beneath them; they have narrow branch crotches which can result in splitting…
Melia—commonly called Chinaberry—is a medium-sized deciduous tree that grows best in warm-winter regions. It is often grown as a shade tree in poor conditions; Melia is a tough tree that tolerates heat, wind, poor alkaline soil, and drought. Melia bears interesting star-shaped flowers in spring. Each flower has 5 or 6 spreading petals and 10…
Pruning shrubs and trees before winter helps prevent damage, reduces disease risk, and encourages healthy growth in spring. However, winter pruning is not the same as summer pruning—knowing what to cut and what to leave is key. After decades of gardening in both Sonoma Valley and Iowa Zone 5, I’ve developed practical methods that balance…
Tsuga–commonly called hemlock–are towering trees with a graceful appearance. Tsuga grows best in cool, moist climates. They have horizontal to drooping branches and are less formal than other evergreens. Tsuga are excellent specimen trees. When young they are suitable for clipped hedging and screens. Tsuga have short, flat, fine-textured needles. They have two white bands…
To attract hummingbirds to your garden provide a habitat that will give them food, water, shade, and shelter. Plant flowering shrubs, trees, perennials, annuals, and vines on which they can perch and nest, and from which they can get the nectar they need to thrive. Hummingbirds rely on bright colors to find their food. Choose…
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