Drought and Spring Checklist

The Department of Environmental Protection has issued Nonessential Water Use Restrictions for Drought Emergency Areas. Although there are some exceptions to these restrictions, we still need to be conscious about conserving water this summer. Here are some of the restrictions outlined on the DEA website:

1. Newly seeded or sodded grass can be watered with a bucket, can, or hand-held hose equipped with a shut-off valve between the hours of 5 p.m. and 9 a.m.

2. Gardens, landscaped areas, trees, shrubs, and other plants may be watered with a hand-held hose equipped with a shut-off nozzle between the hours of 5 p.m. and 9 a.m. Irrigation systems that are designed and operated to restrict the timing and total volume of water. Watering should be restricted to specific plantings that ensure effective conservation (Effective conservation – the use of water at the minimum rate necessary for the intended purpose).

*For the complete list of restrictions visit the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection website at www.dep.state.pa.

- Reuse your cooking water, and invest in a rain barrel to hook up to your down spout and catch the rainwater to use in your gardens.
- For container gardens add moisture holding granules (Soil Moist) to the soil to reduce the amount of water you use for pots that dry out quickly. Also, adding mulch to the top of the containers will reduce the amount of moisture loss.
- Mulch your garden and landscaped areas with 2" of mulch, which will reduce the amount of moisture loss from the ground.
- Only water plants when necessary. Dig down 4"-6" and check to see if your watering is penetrating to the roots.
- Invest in "Gator Bags" for your trees. Each bag holds 20 gallons of water, which is slowly released over 10 hours.
- Hold back on fertilizers, a growing plant will require more water.
- Remove weeds. Weeds will compete for water and nutrients with other plants.
- Keep beds in "tip top" shape. Your plants may not be in "tip top" shape this year, but you can focus on keeping the beds neat and clean.
- Add a stone wall, a bench, decorative containers, and sculptures to your garden this year. These new additions require no water or maintenance.

Drought Conditions
As we enter this spring from a dry winter and look forward to possibly a dry summer how do you keep your gardens looking green and full despite the harsh environmental conditions? Many counties in Southeastern PA, including Montgomery and Bucks, are in a drought emergency. What does this mean for you and your gardens this summer? One way to conserve water and still have a beautiful garden is to plant drought tolerant plants that will survive with little water.
Here is a list of some Drought tolerant plants that will still
perform well in a dry garden.

Drought Tolerant Perennials
Achillea
Artemisia
Asclepias tuberosa
Baptisia
Centaurea
Certostigma
Chrysanthemum pacificum
Coreopsis verticillata
Delosperma
Dianthus
Echinacea
Gaillardia
Gaura
Geranium
Grass Chasmanthium
Grass Pennisetum
Grass Panicum
Helenium
Helianthus
Hemerocallis
Lavender
Liatris
Lonicera
Lychnis
Penstemon
Perovskia
Rudbeckia
Salvia
Scabiosa
Sedum
Sempervivum
Solidago
Stachys
Verbena
Drought Tolerant Annuals
Ageratum
Asparagus Fern
Calendula (Pot Marigold)
Cannas
Celosia (Cockscomb)
Cleome (Spider Flower)
Dracaena Spikes
Flowering Tobacco
Geraniums (Zonal)
Gomphrena(Globe amaranth)
Lantana
Madagascar Periwinkle (flowering Vinca)
Marigolds
Melampodium
Mexican Heather
Pentas
Portulacca
Salvias
Statice
Sweet Alyssum
Wax Begonia

Drought Tolerant Shrubs
Abelia (Abelia x grandiflora)
Barberry, Japanese (Berberis thunbergii)
Bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica)
Blue Mist Shrub (Caryopteris)
Boxwood, American (Buxus sempervirens)
Boxwood, Japanese (Buxus microphylla var.japonica)
Burning Bush (Euonymus alatas)
Butterfly Bush (Buddleia davidii)
Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster species)
Deutzia, Slender (Duetzia gracilis)
Forsythia (Forsythia x intermedia)
Holly
Hydrangea, Bigleaf (Hydrangea macrophylla)
Hydrangea, Oakleaf (Hydrangea quercifolia)
Hydrangea, Annabelle (Hydrangea arborescens "Annabelle")
Juniper species
Leyland cypress (Cupressocyparis leylandii)
Magnolia, Star (magnolia stellata)
Mahonia, Leatherleaf (Mahonia bealei)
Mockorange (Philadelphus coronaries)
Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia)
Nandina (Nandina domestica)
Potentilla (Potentilla fruticosa)
Pyracantha (Pyracantha spp.)
Scotch Broom (Cytisus scoparius)
Spiraea, Bridalwreath (Spiraea prunifolia "Plena")
St. Johnswort (Hypericum spp.)
Sweetspire, Virginia (Itea virginica)
Viburnum, Prague (Viburnum pragense)
Viburnum, Doublefile (Viburnum plicatum var. tomentosum)
Wichhazel (Hamamelis vernalis)
Yucca (Yucca filamentosa)