9 Best Drought-Tolerant Plants – Drought-Resistant Flowers, Grasses, Vines, and More

Nancy

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Every garden has its challenges, whether it’s pest control, soil issues, or a lack of sun. But for many gardeners in the South and Southwest United States, the challenge is drought. After all, adequate water is one of the main things plants need to live long and healthy lives. However, while some plants wilt after a day without water, others thrive in dry conditions.

Ahead, we’ve found the best drought-resistant plants that can go a while without a drink. From beautiful flowers like lavender and creeping phlox to climbing vines like bougainvillea, these tough, low-maintenance plants will make a statement in your garden. They may look delicate, but boy, are they hardy. (Of course, you’ll also want to make sure your new plants work in your USDA Hardiness Zone.) Want to get your flowers quickly? Order them from one of the best places to buy plants online.

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Purple Coneflower

Butterflies love these long-lasting, in-your-face flowers, which bloom from early summer until first frost. In addition to being drought resistant and deer resistant, these hardy perennials are also extremely low-maintenance, which makes them perfect for beginner gardeners.

SHOP PURPLE

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Oakleaf hydrangea blooming but wants acidic soil

Nancy

May 24, 2020

After years of coveting oakleaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea quercifolia) I’d seen in other Austin gardens, I found a shady, relatively moist spot to plant one of my own. Near an air-conditioning unit’s condensate discharge, which directs water toward this bed, and shaded by a large crape myrtle, this white-flowering, deciduous shrub has grown quickly and bloomed beautifully the past two springs.

But this year it shows signs of chlorosis — yellowing leaves with dark-green veins — caused by iron deficiency in alkaline soil. I’ve never had my soil tested, but I can guarantee it’s alkaline because of all the limestone in the ground here in Austin. Like azaleas, camellias, and other Southern garden classics, hydrangeas prefer acidic soil, which is found throughout the Southeast but not so much in Texas, except maybe the East Texas pineywoods.

Oakleaf hydrangea can tolerate more alkalinity than other hydrangeas, so it’s pretty much the only variety that grows here in Central Texas. The French mophead (Hydrangea macrophylla) found throughout the South, whose flowers turn blue or pink depending on acidity level, doesn’t thrive here at all. But in richer, deeper soils around town, you’ll see oakleaf hydrangea, just

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How to Grow Asparagus – Tips for Planting Asparagus

Nancy

There’s a reason why many of us turn to asparagus in the spring and summer months: It’s one of the first crops of spring harvest, and the fresh-picked spears are more tender and tasty during the growing season. Even more, this versatile green is rich in B vitamins, vitamin C, calcium, and iron, making it a healthy (and welcome) addition to any meal.

While the idea of growing asparagus may be overwhelming, it shouldn’t be: Asparagus is a great starting point because it’s one of the few perennial vegetables that’ll grow fresh spears year after year with little space and effort. Even though it takes asparagus plants three years to fully mature, it’ll be well worth it when you have a bounty of nutritious spears at your disposal.

Now, here’s everything you need to know about growing asparagus, whether you start from seed or spear.

How to Grow Asparagus From Seed

It takes patience to start your asparagus patch from seed, but there are advantages to gain from the extra wait. Seed-grown plants don’t suffer from transplant trauma like nursery-grown roots, and you can buy a whole packet of seed for the same price you’ll pay for one asparagus crown.

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Stock Tank Pools Are Going to be Super Popular This Summer

Nancy

As the temperatures rise, installing a pool in your backyard probably sounds like a really good idea—until you learn that the average cost of a backyard pool is $20,000 to $30,000. Instead of dropping a ton of cash just to stay cool this summer, you may want to consider a stock tank pool.

These inexpensive farm staples, originally designed as water troughs for livestock and affectionately referred to as “hillbilly hot tubs,” are popping up in more backyards across the country than ever before.

“More and more, we see our customers turning to this innovative solution as a way to enjoy many of the benefits of a pool without the high cost,” reads the Tractor Supply Company‘s website.

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Not only are they more affordable than traditional pools, they’re easier to set up, too. Once you’ve chosen a smooth area in your yard, you can seal and install the cow trough and even add a pump to make it easy to fill and clean.

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Fawning over this baby – Digging

Nancy

May 22, 2020

A young visitor dropped by my garden yesterday. Actually I think she was here a couple of days ago, although I didn’t see her that day. I was moving around the side of the house and heard a startled rustling in the sedge and thought I might have flushed a fawn from its hiding place.

Yesterday I was dragging trash bins down the driveway and through the back gate, and when I reemerged into the front garden, something caught my eye along the foundation of the house. Curled up behind an ‘Everillo’ sedge, a tiny fawn held still, hoping its camouflaging spots would keep me from seeing it. No luck this time, but I kept a quiet and respectful distance while using my long lens to get these photos.

What a sweet baby, waiting for her mama to come back and collect her. I’ll be on the lookout for her again tomorrow, maybe in a different spot.

In the back garden, another happy sighting: the screech owl that’s been hanging out in the owl box. I don’t really think it’s a nesting female, mainly because it doesn’t sit for long periods in the doorway, like nesting females

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Onions: A Growing Guide

Nancy

Onions are one of the most indispensable and flavorful ingredients you can cook with. Experiment with raw onions in salads, add them to breads, toss them in soups (you can’t go wrong with a French onion recipe), or use them in casseroles. Plus, onions are known for offering a range of health benefits—they can boost your immune system, regulate your blood sugar levels, and even help to keep your cholesterol under control.

Along with their medicinal properties and ability to bring more flavor to all types of food, they’re also fairly easy to grow, as they can be tucked into spare corners and along the edges of garden beds. If you’re curious about how to incorporate them into your own garden, here’s a helpful primer on how to grow onions:

Varieties of onions:

Onions come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. The white, yellow, or red bulbs range in size from small pickling onions to large Spanish cultivars; they can be globe-, top-, or spindle-shaped.

Most types can be pulled young as green onions, but there’s also a perennial bunching type called Allium fistulosum that’s practically disease- and insect-proof and produces superior scallions.

Each

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