When it comes to designing a drought-tolerant landscape, mulch is an important element. Mulch helps retain moisture in the soil and suppress weed growth, making it an essential part of any water-conserving garden. But how do you choose the right mulch for your local climate? The first step is to maintain your garden regularly. Remove weeds and straw as needed so they don't compete with the desired plants for water.
Lawns require a lot of water and maintenance, so consider reducing the size of the grass or replacing it with drought-resistant groundcovers. Consider using drip irrigation, which delivers water directly to plant roots and minimizes water loss through evaporation. When it comes to mulch, consider using gravel, rocks, or bark chips. Woody plants don't require as much protection as herbaceous perennial plants, but a 2- to 4-inch layer of shredded bark mulch or compost helps conserve soil moisture.
It's important to keep mulch several inches away from the stems of plants. Piling it around the base of the plants can invite rodents, such as voles and mice, who like to cover themselves with mulch while they chew on the bark. Laying mulch against the stems also retains too much moisture against the plant, providing ideal conditions for diseases to take hold. As the world becomes increasingly aware of the effects of climate change, many homeowners are looking for ways to conserve water and reduce its environmental impact.
A drought-tolerant landscape is one way to do that, through the use of plants and design elements that can thrive in arid conditions. From sports fields to residential landscapes to commercial properties, the use of turf may require irrigation to maintain a healthy and usable landscape.
