Endless watering of dry flower beds is not the solution. Instead of fighting the climate, you can invite plants that enjoy the drought. They don’t mind drought, on the contrary, they literally flourish in it.
Forget the weather forecast and the convention
In recent years, nature has increasingly dictated new rules in our gardens. Hot summers and weeks without a drop of rain force us to fight the fire with endless watering. But this is only a short-term solution that does not pay off. In the long term, it is advisable to invite plants that literally enjoy being dry to the flower bed.
Dry-loving perennials and annuals are not poor, quite the opposite. They often have the most interesting leaf shapes, they smell all over the region and they bloom even when other plants have already turned yellow and look sickly.
Perennials: You can count on them year after year
These plants have deep roots or very shallow roots and store water in fleshy leaves.
Perovskia or Russian sage (Perovskia)
A tall perennial plant is often compared to a blue mist with aromatic leaves. it resembles giant lavender, but is perhaps even more resistant. He creates in the garden airy, semi-bush-like tuftwhich can grow up to over a meter and looks light and fluffy. It needs full sun and above all perfectly permeable soil, otherwise it will suffer. Works great in gravel beds or as a subtle ‘veil’ between more prominent perennials.
Medicinal or narrow-leaved lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
is literally a Mediterranean legend that thrives in our permeable soil without a single drop of extra dressing. He creates compact busheswhich keep their shape if they are trimmed regularly. It needs light, dry soil and lots of sun. It is suitable for edging paths, herb beds and flower pots.
What about lavenders to make them bloom? Try this fertilizer.
Rozchodníkovec (Hylotelephium):
The long-leaved stonecrop is a great plant for dry and poor soils. It blooms in late summer and insects love it. It creates firm, compact buncheswhich keep their shape even without a support. The biggest problem for him is not drought, but overwatering, which he hates. It fits into mixed beds and is interesting even in winter, when the flowers remain dry.
Sage (Salvia nemorosa)
The beautiful one will dazzle you with its deep purple spikes, which bloom twice a season after being cut. Produces dense, lower clumpswhich will fill the space well. It likes the sun and if you cut it back after flowering, it will quickly discolor. It fits perfectly in the borders of flower beds or in combination with roses.
Eryngium
it attracts you with its steel blue but prickly flowers. It looks modern, almost like a bizarre creation of an architect or sculptor. It is used as solitaire even in denser plantingsbut then it is better if it forms the background of the flower bed. It has a deep root, so it hates transplanting. It fits perfectly into modern or gravel gardens.
Stachys byzantina (Stachys byzantina)
It is called “donkey’s ear” for its silvery, velvety leaves that reflect the sun instead of burning it. Gradually creates a cleaner a low, spreading carpetwhich will cover the ground. It needs dryness and hates winter moisture. It is ideal as a ground cover plant for the edges of flower beds.
Candlestick (Gaura)
The gaura is a fragile beauty to look at, but an incredible hardy in the heat. He creates airy, slightly loose tuftwhich moves gently in the wind. It does not like heavy and wet soils, especially in winter. Great for lightening plantings between more robust plants.
Echinacea
she is a healer who likes the sun and always finds water with deep spices. Grows in firm, higher buncheswhich holds the bed structure well. It can tolerate even poorer soil and does not need special care. It is ideal for natural flower beds and attracts pollinators.
Annuals: A colorful ride for one season
If you need to fill empty spaces or brighten up chests on the south side, these ladies will not let you down, even if you sometimes forget about them with water.
Large-flowered purslane or purslane (Portulaca)
A low carpet with colorful flowers that open only in the sun will create a vital effect in your garden. It grows fast like a weed, but it is beautiful and will delight you all summer long. It has leaves like little cylinders full of water. He creates dense, creeping growthwhich quickly covers the soil or the edge of the container. It needs full sun, otherwise the flowers stay closed. It is ideal for boxes or for the dry edges of flower beds.
Coreopsis
will enchant you with its beautiful yellow flowers that bloom tirelessly all summer long. A minimum of care is all they need. Grows in light, branched buncheswhich look natural. It does best in poorer soil. It fits into natural plantings.
Brachyscome
Delicate and subtle, it reminds a little of purple or white daisies. It also survives heatstroke, while other flowers literally burn. He creates pillow-like to slightly overhanging growth. It needs a permeable substrate and should not be overwatered. A great choice for south side chests.
Calendula
or calendula has a long tradition in our gardens. It sows itself and drought does not prevent it from spreading. It grows more loose and ramified. He has no special demands and often returns even without work. It is suitable not only for ornamentals, but also for vegetable beds and for cutting.
California sunflower (Eschscholzia)
The orange calyxes and delicate leaves of the sunflower, which is actually a small poppy, will delight you all summer long. It is used to the American prairies, so the drier weather is ideal for it. It creates a light, airy growth that looks natural. It hates transplanting, so it is sown directly in place. It is ideal for dry slopes and natural plantings.
Gazania (Gazania)
Its flowers look like painted sunflowers. she is extremely frugal when it comes to dressing. It grows low and compact so it forms a continuous colorful carpet. It needs maximum sun, otherwise the flowers remain closed. Perfect for containers and borders.
Helichrysum
The petiole is often grown for its silvery leaves and tiny twigs that form overhangs. He hates spillage. It mainly fits in boxes as a contrasting addition, but it also nicely fills places in flower beds, where it creates a background for flowering plants.
Tropaeolum (Tropaeolum)
It not only blooms beautifully and tastes good in a salad, but it will also cover the driest and poorest places in the garden. can grow creeping or climbing, depending on conditions. The poorer the soil, the more flowers it produces. It is great for covering up bare spots and as an edible decoration.
