FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The warning signs are flashing. At a time gardeners are itching to get out in the garden, water levels are dangerously low, causing some gardeners to worry about what to plant.

Many gardeners may be considering planting true drought-tolerant and dry soil plants as if they live in Arizona, but West Coast horticultural consultant Joe Seals warns gardeners to resist the this temptation. “These plantings may be in trouble on the East Coast in your average years of rainfall,” he explains.

To help alleviate this dilemma, he recommends home gardeners might want to stick with annuals, some bulbs, and quick perennials to slide them through this temporary condition.

Ball Horticultural’s marketing manager Jeff Gibson agrees that using drought-resistant plants is a key strategy for those planting in drought conditions. He urges careful selection of plants that perform under extreme conditions.

“Lots of our Simply Beautiful line of annuals, although not true draught tolerant plants, can stand up to heat and dry conditions,” Gibson says. “These plants were selected because they are tough, easy to grow and require little maintenance, even in a dry year. “

Gibson recommends Lobelia Periwinkle Blue, considered the most heat tolerant of all the lobelias. Unlike most lobelias, it grows in the sun or shade, which is a big deal for lobelia lovers. Galleria® Geranium is a great heat tolerant trailing geranium that works well in hanging baskets, mixed containers or window boxes.

Angel Mist® Summersnapdragon ‘Angelonia’ is a beautiful flower that looks like miniature orchids blooming from upright spikes. This virus free annual can take lots of heat.

“Butterfly Penta is a big star in the heat and provides vibrant colors when everything else is wilted and brown,” says Gibson. “This flower is tough as nails and well suited to dry and extreme conditions, and attracts butterflies, hummingbirds and honey bees.”

According to Jacqueline van der Kloet, Dutch bulb designer and a founder of the award-winning on-line bulb resource site, TulipWorld, says if the draught continues, gardeners should order anemones, daffodils, tulips and crocus this spring for fall planting.

All of these bulbs are adapted to growing with water from snow or even less and going into a natural drought-resisting dormancy come late spring into summer.

For larger trees and shrubs, Scott Vergara of The Conard-Pyle Co. , famous for their Star Roses, says the key is planting right in the beginning.

“No matter how drought resistant the plant is, plants must get established from the beginning,” says Vergara. “When you plant use a good organic mix, mulch, mulch, mulch and water well.” Vergara adds it takes better part of half a season to get plants established, even ones that are drought tolerant. For trees, it could take two to three years.

Conard-Pyle’s rule of thumb in its commercial nursery is to water once a day for a week, once a week for a month and once a month for a year. If Mother Nature waters for you, skip that week, unless it was a light shower, which you should follow by a good soaking.

Vergara emphasizes that, upon establishment, most Star® Landscape Roses can handle long dry periods. Knock Out™, a hot pink 2000 All-American Rose Selection winner, and Carefree Sunshine™, a bright yellow single petaled rose, were bred for tough conditions. They both are extremely drought-resistant.

Other shrubs that are particularly drought resistant – once established – are Epimedium 'Purple Pixie', Caryopteris ‘Grand Bleu’, Euonymus ‘Emerald Surprise™” or ‘Moonshadow’ and Juniper ‘Gold Lace’ and ‘Emerald Sentinel™’, which is a native to the East.

Drought tough perennials are yuccas and any plant in the sedum family. Both are hardy and undemanding and nearly all have the ability to tolerate drought and poor soil. Yuccas in all their great cultivars are so drought-resistant they will bloom (after settling in) without rain since their tap roots go so deep.

Vergara adds one more caveat that may seem a bit strange coming from a grower.

“Don't buy more than you can take care of,” he advises. “Invest your money wisely. Buy what you can get in the ground, water and care for realistically. Then buy more later, after the first wave is established.”

For more planting tips and other heat tolerant annuals visit www.simplybeautifulgardens.com, for bulbs click on www.tulipworld.com, and for roses visit www.starroses.com.