Water-Wise Gardening: Tips For Conserving Water In Late Summer

Maintaining a lush, vibrant garden can be challenging as the summer heat peaks and rainfall becomes scarce. However, with water-wise gardening techniques, you can conserve water while still enjoying a beautiful and productive garden. Here are some effective tips for conserving water in your garden during late summer, along with a list of the top 20 best water-wise perennials for gardeners in Maryland and Virginia.

Mulching is one of the simplest and most effective ways to conserve water in the garden. Mulch helps retain soil moisture, reduce evaporation, and regulate soil temperature. Organic mulches, such as wood chips and compost, also improve soil structure and fertility as they decompose. Apply a 2-3 inch layer of mulch around plants, ensuring it does not touch the stems to prevent rot.

Choosing plants that are adapted to dry conditions can significantly reduce the need for supplemental watering. Drought-tolerant plants have developed various mechanisms to survive with minimal water, such as deep root systems, small or waxy leaves, and the ability to store water in their tissues.

Efficient watering practices can make a big difference in water conservation:

• Drip Irrigation: Drip systems deliver water directly to the plant roots, minimizing evaporation and runoff.
• Soaker Hoses: These hoses release water slowly and evenly along their length, providing a steady supply of moisture to the soil.
• Watering in the Early Morning or Late Evening: Watering during these times reduces water loss due to evaporation and allows plants to absorb moisture before the heat of the day.
• Deep Watering: Watering deeply and infrequently encourages deep root growth, making plants more drought-resistant.

1. Lavender (Lavandula spp.)
   • Description: Lavender is a fragrant, perennial herb with silvery-green foliage and spikes of purple flowers.
   • Growing Tips: Plant in full sun and well-drained soil. Lavender is highly drought-tolerant once established.
2. Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
   • Description: This native perennial features bright yellow, daisy-like flowers with dark centers.
   • Growing Tips: Prefers full sun and well-drained soil. Tolerates drought and poor soil conditions.
3. Coneflower (Echinacea spp.)
   • Description: Coneflowers are known for their daisy-like flowers with prominent, cone-shaped centers.
   • Growing Tips: Grow in full sun to partial shade. They thrive in well-drained soil and are drought-tolerant.
4. Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia)
   • Description: This perennial has aromatic, silver-gray foliage and spires of lavender-blue flowers.
   • Growing Tips: Plant in full sun and well-drained soil. It is highly drought-resistant and low-maintenance.
5. Sedum (Sedum spp.)
   • Description: Sedums are succulent perennials with fleshy leaves and clusters of star-shaped flowers.
   • Growing Tips: Grow in full sun and well-drained soil. Sedums are extremely drought-tolerant.
6. Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
   • Description: Yarrow has fern-like foliage and clusters of small, flat-topped flowers in various colors.
   • Growing Tips: Prefers full sun and well-drained soil. It is drought-tolerant and attracts beneficial insects.
7. Blanket Flower (Gaillardia spp.)
   • Description: This perennial produces vibrant, daisy-like flowers in red, orange, and yellow hues.
   • Growing Tips: Plant in full sun and well-drained soil. Blanket flowers are drought-tolerant and long-blooming.
8. Salvia (Salvia spp.)
   • Description: Salvias are known for their spikes of tubular flowers in various colors, including blue, purple, and red.
   • Growing Tips: Grow in full sun and well-drained soil. Salvias are heat and drought-tolerant.
9. Agastache (Agastache spp.)
   • Description: Also known as hyssop, this perennial features fragrant foliage and spikes of tubular flowers.
   • Growing Tips: Prefers full sun and well-drained soil. Agastache is drought-tolerant and attracts pollinators.
10. Gaura (Gaura lindheimeri)

• • Description: Gaura has delicate, butterfly-like flowers that bloom on tall, airy stems.
  • Growing Tips: Plant in full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil. It is drought-tolerant and long-blooming.

11. Coreopsis (Coreopsis spp.)

• • Description: Coreopsis produces masses of bright yellow, daisy-like flowers.
  • Growing Tips: Prefers full sun and well-drained soil. It is drought-tolerant and easy to grow.

12. Blue Fescue (Festuca glauca)

• • Description: This ornamental grass forms compact, blue-gray tufts.
  • Growing Tips: Grow in full sun and well-drained soil. Blue fescue is drought-tolerant and low-maintenance.

13. Catmint (Nepeta spp.)

• • Description: Catmint has aromatic, gray-green foliage and spikes of lavender-blue flowers.
  • Growing Tips: Prefers full sun and well-drained soil. It is drought-tolerant and attracts pollinators.

14. Orange Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)

• • Description: This native perennial features large, orange flowers that Monarch Butterflies adore.
  • Growing Tips: Plant in full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil. It is drought-tolerant and attracts pollinators.

15. Verbena (Verbena spp.)

• • Description: Verbenas produce clusters of small, colorful flowers.
  • Growing Tips: Prefers full sun and well-drained soil. Verbenas are drought-tolerant and long-blooming.

16. Lamb’s Ear (Stachys byzantina)

• • Description: This perennial has soft, silvery leaves and spikes of purple flowers.
  • Growing Tips: Grow in full sun and well-drained soil. Lamb’s ear is drought-tolerant and low-maintenance.

17. Autumn Joy Sedum (Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’)

• • Description: This sedum produces large clusters of pink flowers that turn bronze in the fall.
  • Growing Tips: Prefers full sun and well-drained soil. It is extremely drought-tolerant.

18. Penstemon (Penstemon spp.)

• • Description: Penstemons have tubular flowers in various colors, often with contrasting throats.
  • Growing Tips: Plant in full sun and well-drained soil. Penstemons are drought-tolerant and attract pollinators.

19. Hens and Chicks (Sempervivum spp.)

• • Description: These succulents form rosettes of fleshy leaves and produce offsets (chicks).
  • Growing Tips: Grow in full sun and well-drained soil. Hens and chicks are extremely drought-tolerant.

20. Daylily (Hemerocallis spp.)

• • Description: Daylilies produce trumpet-shaped flowers in a wide range of colors.
  • Growing Tips: Prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil. Daylilies are drought-tolerant and easy to grow.

Water-wise gardening is beneficial for conserving water and creating a resilient and low-maintenance garden. You can maintain a beautiful garden even during the dry late summer months by incorporating mulch, selecting drought-tolerant plants, and using efficient watering methods. The plants listed above are excellent choices for gardeners in Maryland and Virginia looking to create a water-efficient landscape. Happy gardening!