It is a challenge to keep up a brilliant garden in the hot dry summer months of New Zealand but it is quite possible by using the proper plant material. Water consumption, maintenance and pressure on your landscape and soil is reduced by choosing drought resistant, heat tolerant plants that allows your garden flourish in the summer sun.
An exceptional choice is Lomandra Lime Tuff, a very vigorous ornamental grass that also tolerates drought, and has lime-colored leaves. The plant Company has the largest selection of plants, which gardeners across New Zealand can buy online at reasonable rates. Lomandra makes an ideal choice in bringing texture, structure and evergreen value to sun-drenched dry spots.
Native Grass and Groundcovers
Hot and dry gardens should begin with native plants as they are acclimatized to the local weather. To cite one example the Lomandra has multiple varieties of soils and is drought resistant after being sown. It has an attractive neat mounding shape that makes it suitable as a border, pathway and in extensive planting.
The other exceptional local substitutes are:
- Carex testacea – This native of NZ is a copper-orange sedge that contributes visual warmth and looks best in full sunlight.
- Libertia grandiflora – Libertia grandiflora features stunch straplike foliage with small white flowers and is easy care yet hardy.
Mediterranean Marvels
Naturally resistant to long, dry summers, plants from Mediterranean regions are excellent fits for New Zealand’s comparable environment.
Think about including:
- Lavender – Aromatic and bee-friendly lavender blooms in full sun and gives gorgeous spiky purple or blue blooms.
- Rosemary – More than simply culinary! Remarkably drought-tolerant, this woody plant may also serve as an ornamental shrub.
- Olive trees – Slow-growing yet elegant, olive trees fit drier soils and provide a Mediterranean style to your yard.
Architectural Plants and Succulents
Succulents are constructed for toughness. Their bright forms and water-storing leaves make them ideal for dry gardens.
- Agave attenuata – Agave has gorgeous architectural foliage that is attractive with its elegant, curved stems who provide a mouth-opening architectural touch as well as close to no need of irrigation after it is established.
- Aloe vera – Aloe grows well in garden beds and pots besides being used medicinally.
To really create an extreme low-maintenance, water wise style of garden design, combine these with rock, or gravel mulch.
Vibrant Perennials
Perennials provide season-long color without need of ongoing focus. Great drought-hardy possibilities consist of:
- Cone flowers/ Echinacea – These long-bloom gracefully cope with demanding summer conditions and attract pollinating insects.
- Gaura lindheimeri – Gaura blooms exquisitely, seemingly, butterflylike flowers all over a parched border and thrives in poor soil.
- Verbena – Verbenas are sun devotees that blooms all months and seldom requires additional than routine watering.
Design Tips for Drought-Proof Gardens
Apart from plant selection, water conservation can be accomplished by garden design and upkeep methods:
- Group plants with comparable water demands.
- Maintain soil moisture and minimize weeds using mulch.
- Choose lighter-colored paving to reflect sunshine and avoid too much heat accumulation.
In Conclusion
Even hot and dry summers at New Zealand can provide abundant, blooming gardens provided the suitable plant palette is taken up and clever garden design is undertaken. The possibilities are endless, be it the structural intelligence of Lomandra, intoxicating beauty of herbs and Mediterranean or the striking attractiveness of succulents.
