Planning a Drought Proof Garden
Judy Ziemba, State Horticulture Chairman

Last summer was a stressful time for gardens and gardeners alike. Of course we are happy for those people who have watering systems and an unlimited abundance of water but it might be worth thinking how you could control some of that stress. It seems the lesson to be learned might be that garden design should include a backbone of tough, reliable, hardy plants. It means we might have to curb some of our excitement to try newer, improved, bigger, smaller, special colored varieties.

In early spring, it will be time to check to see what survived the hot dry summer last year and whatever winter brings us. Some plants just disappeared, probably forever. Some plants recovered with the autumn rain and cooler temperatures and it seems the old timers fared the drought the best.

Lilacs will appear each spring long after farmhouses have been razed and peonies, both tree and herbaceous, are very reliable. Siberian and vesper iris, hemerocallis (daylilies) and oriental poppies are long-lived plants and now available in many great colors. Floribunda and shrub roses seem to hold their own in the landscape once they become established. Some other reliable perennials are columbines, epimediums, heuchera (coral bells)dianthus (pinks) and oenothera (evening primroses) varieties. All of the above do not seem to appear on the deer menu except the roses. It has been said deer will eat anything if they are hungry enough but some things are not their first choice.

Spring bulbs like daffodils and crocus manage nicely in tough situations. Tulips can take the dryness but voles, squirrels and deer sometimes think you planted the bulbs just for them. Garden lilies and other summer bulbs also attract wildlife but they can handle drought after they bloom.

Container gardens probably suffer the most from dry weather unless you are vigilant. If you got tired of watering last summer, think about some adjustments as to where you place your containers. Containers are super if you need to brighten areas where there is no soil like in entry ways, window boxes and patios. Cluster them together to simplify watering. Containers also work well with plants that demand perfect drainage or special soil mixes. Adding Soil Moist polymers to your planting mix also allows more time between watering.

One group of plants to consider are those native to our state. If you hope to add some shrubs to your garden, think about the 2'-4' dwarf fothergilla (F. gardenii). It is a multi-season plant with wonderful white blooms in the spring, bright foliage for summer and beautiful red color in the autumn. Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius) is making a comeback and there is a deep red colored variety called 'Diablo'. Most viburnums are multi-season plants with flowers and berries and the V. dentatum is an Illinois native. In the perennial garden some native plants to consider are the Joe-Pye plant (Eupatorium maculatum) and its cousins. New England Asters are prized by deer but if you can cover the newly emerging tips with chicken wire in the spring, once they get going, they give a beautiful show. Another very long-lived plant is False Indigo (Baptisia australis). The blue flowers are followed by interesting seedpods. Asters have been developed to stay stockier and shorter but the old fashioned varieties cannot be beat for drought tolerance. Just cut them back by one half a couple of times during the summer to develop mounds of color. There are many species of Cimicifuga or black snakeroot but once they get rooted they are dependable and attractive in the back of the border in or out of flower.

Plan your garden so some of the reliable, tough plants form the framework of your landscape. Remember when you are tempted to add a "zone pushing beauty" that you take a chance. Is the purchase worth the upkeep and labor?