During hot Texas summer days and periods of drought, gardeners struggle to keep their gardens thriving while managing limited water resources. To achieve this goal, the two most important things to consider are what to plant and how to water those plants.
It is very important to use native or highly adapted plants in your landscape. These perennials and shrubs grow well with less water because they are accustomed to our climate and soil. They also have the advantage that they require little fertilizer and are less susceptible to disease than exotic or adapted plants. These plants have been growing here for a long time and thrive in our hot, dry summers with little care.
If you're new to gardening in this area, resources such as the Texas Superstars booklet from the Texas Department of Agriculture, Austin Watershed's Grow Green booklet, and Texas A&M's Earthkind website can help you choose the right plants. Both booklets are available online. If you plant new plants in midsummer, you'll need to water them frequently to help them survive, so use these booklets to plan your fall plantings.
Once your plants are in the ground, proper irrigation methods will help them thrive with less water. The best time to water is early in the morning. Cooler temperatures reduce evaporation and give the water on the leaves time to dry by evening. Wet leaves make your plants more susceptible to disease. It's best to water slowly, moistening the top 3 to 4 inches of soil. Use your finger or a popsicle stick to check the depth. Watering deeply forces the roots to grow away from the surface, causing the soil to heat up and dry out more quickly. This also means watering less frequently. A 3-inch layer of mulch will help the soil stay moist longer and stay cooler.
To reduce water usage, it's important to choose the most efficient irrigation system possible. The emitters found in drip irrigation systems are very effective at delivering water exactly where it's needed with little runoff or evaporation, making them 95% efficient. Soaker hoses are about as effective, at 90% efficient. Relatively inexpensive timers for both of these methods eliminate the need for constant outdoor monitoring. Sprinkler systems (75% efficient) and manual watering are the least effective watering methods. Wet leaves result in more evaporation and runoff, increasing the risk of disease.
With the right plants and proper watering techniques, you can support water restrictions and still keep your landscape beautiful.
