Some tips:
Great planter bed preparation with deep tilling and organic amendments is a great first step. Plant in November- the very best month to plant-cool soil that still encourages root growth and ample rainfall. Summer planting in a drought is a no-no
Accept that you cannot have everything- join a Garden Club and share gardens! Start with a reasonable amount of plants and build on that.
Accept that some plants you try "may not make it"--great learning tool.
Try plants in containers on your patio with basically trees in your yard- but if you go on vacation...
Proper selection of plant material- and only through study or hiring a consultant can you begin to get it right. Like any construction, building a successful garden takes wise planning. Mountain plants for now are probably best to avoid-like many Rhododendrons, Hemlock, even Dogwood is a finicky tree even without a drought.
Use Natives? Many people say it is the way to go- I am a diverse kind of guy and believe we are blessed here in NC to be able to use many types of plants beyond native.
Ornamental grasses are usually very drought tolerant. Purple Muhly Grass, Pennisetum 'Hameln', and "Moudry", many Miscanthus (may be listed as invasive-choose carefully)
Use of drip irrigation- there are many home-owner versions sold and work quite well- what I must caution on is: Timers can have their batteries run down, rodents will eat holes in the drip lines to get to the water during a drought. Soaker hoses count as drip-they work. Providing afternnon shade and watering in the evening (but not on the foliage and not every night- you can get slugs and root rot).
Visit Stowe Botanic Garden and garden centers and take pictures of what is working and what you like.
Great planter bed preparation with deep tilling and organic amendments is a great first step. Plant in November- the very best month to plant-cool soil that still encourages root growth and ample rainfall. Summer planting in a drought is a no-no
Accept that you cannot have everything- join a Garden Club and share gardens! Start with a reasonable amount of plants and build on that.
Accept that some plants you try "may not make it"--great learning tool.
Try plants in containers on your patio with basically trees in your yard- but if you go on vacation...
Proper selection of plant material- and only through study or hiring a consultant can you begin to get it right. Like any construction, building a successful garden takes wise planning. Mountain plants for now are probably best to avoid-like many Rhododendrons, Hemlock, even Dogwood is a finicky tree even without a drought.
Use Natives? Many people say it is the way to go- I am a diverse kind of guy and believe we are blessed here in NC to be able to use many types of plants beyond native.
Ornamental grasses are usually very drought tolerant. Purple Muhly Grass, Pennisetum 'Hameln', and "Moudry", many Miscanthus (may be listed as invasive-choose carefully)
Use of drip irrigation- there are many home-owner versions sold and work quite well- what I must caution on is: Timers can have their batteries run down, rodents will eat holes in the drip lines to get to the water during a drought. Soaker hoses count as drip-they work. Providing afternnon shade and watering in the evening (but not on the foliage and not every night- you can get slugs and root rot).
Visit Stowe Botanic Garden and garden centers and take pictures of what is working and what you like.
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