1. Coping with Drought Drought Resistant Plants Darrell Blackwelder Cooperative Extension-Rowan County

2. “The 'Drouth of 1845' devastated the Western Piedmont. Crops bore no yield, a bushel of corn nearly tripled in price, trees withered, cattle were half-starved and wild animals starved to death.” Salisbury Post 2002

3. Evaluate Your Current Situation in the Landscape Inventory plants Remove dead or weak plants Heavy pruning may be needed

4. Existing Situation May already have drought resistant plants in the landscape Many established plants can withstand dry weather Quality is not as good as normal  Insects are usually greater during droughts  Blooms and color are not good  Premature leaf drop

5. Facing another drought-Be Prepared! Group like plants together-drought tolerate vs. those that need supplemental watering Soil testing for optimum growth Soil preparation with proper amendments Planting for shade Mulched

6. Timers to prevent over-watering

7. Drip or trickle irrigation vs soaker hose

8. Planting new trees and shrubs Fall is best for planting trees and shrubs during extended droughts Established before cold weather arrives Established plant materials often survive up to 3 weeks without watering Learn signs of stress  Heat vs. drought stress

9. Lawn use much water If possible, reduce lawn areas with mulch or drought tolerant ground covers Cool season lawns use more water than warm season lawns  Bermuda  Zoyzia  Centipede  St. Augustine If its green, it’s a lawn

10. Don’t Sacrifice Color Drought tolerant annuals and perennials add color to landscape with minimal water Consider planters that survive with hand watering  Pansies  Portulaca  Profusion zinnia

11. Planter on trellis- with heavy mulch to conserve water

12. Drought resistant plants

13. Daylilies

14. Lantana

15. Butterfly weed

16. Verbena

17. Black eye Susan

18. Coneflower

19. Ice plant

20. Sedum

21. Liriope

22. Butterfly bush

23. Trees

24. Birch

25. Red maple

26. Chaste tree

27. Goldenrain tree

28. Pines Virginia, Loblolly, Japanese Black Pine

29. Chinese fringe tree

30. Crepe myrtles

31. Shrubs

32. Glossy Abelia

33. Barberry

34. Aucuba

35. Forsythia and weigelia

36. Boxwood and holly

37. Oakleaf hydrangea

38. Spireas

39. Nandina domestica

40. Ornamental grasses

41. Vines Clematis Yellow jessamine

42. Vines Honeysuckle Wisteria

43. More information on drought tolerant plantings in landscape and lawns Master Gardener web site Information page on the site Drought Tolerant Plant website Plant photos and more information Example of fact sheet page

44. Darrell Blackwelder Cooperative Extension-Rowan County darrell_blackwelder@ncsu.edu 704-216-8970 darrell_blackwelder@ncsu.edu