Less Water, More Flowers: 8 Tips for a Water-Saving Flower Garden

Watering your flower garden can be relaxing, but it can also become a time-consuming chore. And, in many areas, outdoor watering is being restricted in ways that make it difficult to water, even if it’s an activity you enjoy. Read on to discover some easy ways to have a water-saving flower garden, followed by a list of annuals and perennials that perform well without a lot of water.

Ways to Reduce the Need for Supplemental Water

Identify Microclimates

Every yard has some areas that are wetter or drier than others. Become aware of these natural microclimates and lean into them. When plants are matched with their preferred growing conditions, there’s less need to worry about supplemental watering. Iris and sedum, for example, thrive in full sun and dry, sandy soil. Primroses, hostas and most ferns need shade and consistent moisture.

Improve the Soil

Incorporating compost or shredded leaves into the soil is an investment that really pays off when the weather is dry. Organic matter enriches the soil with important plant nutrients and encourages beneficial soil life. Just as importantly, it acts as a sponge to absorb moisture and release it as needed. Plants can be much more self-sufficient when your soil contains at least 5% organic matter.

Make Shade Your Friend

Flower gardeners often complain about having too much shade. But shade has big benefits when the weather is dry. It lowers the soil temperature, reduces surface evaporation, and extends bloom time. When adding trees and shrubs to your home landscape, choose plants that are typical for your area, preferably natives that will thrive without irrigation.

Keep the Soil Covered

Moisture evaporates quickly when bare soil is exposed to sun and wind. Keeping it covered minimizes this moisture loss. Mulch around the base of your plants with an organic mulch such as shredded leaves or compost. You can get away with not mulching if you plant densely enough for the plants to shade the soil surface with their foliage.

Invest in Irrigation

Overhead sprinkling is inefficient because as much as half the water can be lost to evaporation before it reaches plant roots. Soaker hoses and drip irrigation systems direct water to the root zone where it’s needed. Using timers ensures your plants don’t go thirsty, but keep an eye on the weather and skip cycles when it rains. As a rule, it’s best to water deeply and less often.

Time Your Watering Efforts

Water your flower garden in the early morning so the foliage is dry by evening. This will help inhibit fungal diseases like powdery mildew. Containers, on the other hand, should be watered in the late afternoon or evening. This gives them plenty of time to rehydrate before facing another day.

Choose Containers Wisely

Container plantings often require daily watering. To minimize moisture loss, use non-porous containers that are made of plastic or a glazed ceramic material. Grouping containers together shields them from sun and wind, and helps reduce moisture loss. It also makes watering more efficient.

Banish Weeds

A well-weeded flower garden looks neat and feels more inviting. Removing weeds also reduces competition for water. Pull weeds when they are young and well before they have time to produce seeds. Don’t slack off during the second half of the growing season. Weeds are wily and many of them produce their seeds in late summer and fall after gardeners have let down their guard.

Drought Tolerant Annuals, Perennials and Bulbs

Growing conditions can vary dramatically from one region to another. Use the following lists as a starting point and adjust as needed for your location.

Drought Tolerant Annuals

Amaranth, Calendula, California poppy, Celosia, Cleome, Cosmos, Gazania, Gomphrena (globe amaranth), Marigolds, Melampodium, Portulaca, Salvia, Sanvitalia (creeping zinnia), Sunflowers, Tithonia (Mexican sunflower), Verbena bonariensis, Zinnias

Drought Tolerant Bulbs

Tulips, Alliums, Crocus, Dutch Iris, Iris reticulata

Drought Tolerant Perennials

Achillea (yarrow), Agastache, Artemesia, Asclepias tuberosa (butterfly weed), Baptisia, Butterfly weed, Coreopsis verticillata (threadleaf coreopsis),  Echinacea (coneflower), Echinops (globe thistle), Evening primrose, Fall asters, Gaillardia, Goldenrod, Helenium, Hemerocallis (daylily), Iris, Lantana, Lavender, Liatris (blazing star), Nepeta, Oriental poppy, Ornamental grasses, Perovskia (Russian Sage), Rudbeckia, Salvia, Sedum, Solidago (goldenrod), Stachys (lamb’s ears)

To learn more about creating a water-saving flower garden, read:  How to Water Your Plants, How Sunlight Affects Plants, Best Mulch for Flower Gardens, Choosing Plants for Sun or Shade.