How do I design a low-water garden?

The design procedure for a low-water garden begins with choosing drought-tolerant perennials, for example, Yucca and Lavender. In a more recent garden project in Arizona, I grouped Sedum plants together with Blue Fescue grass to decrease irrigation by 60% while still achieving texture year-round. The trick to being successful is mimicking nature's efficiency, so we will zone plants in the garden based on their water needs.

Gravel mulch has revolutionized our approach. For one client in New Mexico, a client replaced bark with crushed granite mulch around their Agave plants for soil temperature purposes - the soil temperature dropped 18°F+, plus the monsoon rain would run off faster vs bark and alleviate root rot. If you work in a humid environment, a second option is to use pine straw as mulch as it holds moisture but also offers drying time to prevent mold.

Combine your ornamental grasses with flowering perennials. Switchgrass (zones 5-9) creates movement next to Purple Coneflower. At my previous ranch in Colorado, that combination survived winters at -10°F and summers at 90°F while feeding goldfinches. It also worked well to stabilize sloped beds that were prone to erosion given the grasses' roots.

Don't make irrigation complicated. Use drip lines for new plants only when getting established, then taper them down. I have a Texas garden with mature Yucca and Liatris, which now rely only on rainfall for irrigation. Planning its design to emphasize hardscaping elements has dramatically lessened my efforts to maintain this garden in the long term.

Read the full article: 15 Top Drought Resistant Perennials for Water-Wise Gardens