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.
Hornbeams are well-behaved and handsome deciduous trees. They are long-lived. Trunks and large limbs are covered with smooth gray bark. Hornbeams can be planted as street trees, in large lawns, and in woodland gardens. They can be shaped into formal hedges or pollarded to form tight canopies. Hornbeam is the common name for the genus…
Corylus — which includes filberts and hazelnuts–are grown in shrub borders and as specimen trees. Smaller hazels are best grown in shrub borders. Larger species and cultivars are excellent specimen trees. Filberts and hazelnuts are usually thought of as trees grown for their edible nuts, but several are pleasing ornamental shrubs–particularly European filbert (Corylus avellana), ‘Contorta’–known as…
Drought tolerant annuals and perennials are plants that can withstand dry soil after their roots are established. No plant is drought-resistant until it become established. All plants require a steady supply of moisture when first planted. Once a plant is established and has a deep root system, it requires less water. Annuals and perennials started…
Groundcovers for slopes must be able to hold the soil and protect the ground. They must be able to withstand wind and rain. Their roots and foliage must grow quickly and laterally to hold the soil. Many groundcovers for slopes have a matting habit—growing low and wide. The spreading nature of groundcovers keeps wind, rain,…
Mangifera–commonly known as mango–is a tropical evergreen tree with an erect, woody trunk and leathery green leaves that may be oval or narrow and lance-shaped. Mangifera is a genus of about 70 species, more than 25 of those species produce edible, fleshy fruits. Mangifera indica is the common mango. It will fruit in tropical regions….
Trees with colorful autumn foliage are at their best from mid-to-late autumn. Make the most of trees with colorful autumn foliage by planting them where they can be seen from windows in your house or along well-traveled paths or drives. Autumn leaves will be especially brilliant after a hot summer, but after a mild summer,…
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