In the Garden: water wise landscaping

growing & crawling: pokeweed

In the Garden

water wise landscapes

By tina will

Water bills can get high this time of year. No, kidding! What we need are some good strategies, and advice on plant choice and placement to lessen the amount of water needed, and lessen the chore of watering as well.

We live in the East, but we've all heard about serious drought and diminishing water supply in western states. I keep wondering if it will ever get that bad here. I don't think so unless the demands of the increasing population diminish our reservoirs and ground water supply. But predictions may or may not come true, and although late Summer and Fall can be very dry, Winter and early Spring weather can relieve that.

We can adapt our plant choice and landscape design now before there is a serious need. Native plant choices are the first things to promote because their water needs are better suited to this climate. Cedell Brooks Jr. Native Plant Demonstration Garden in King George County has a fine collection and design to help educate us all, and prove that native plant choices do well here. There you will find wellestablished plantings (all native plant species) that have filled the large areas and hillside that is much improved with these plants. Yaupon Holly, Baptisia, Sweet Pepperbush, St. Johnswort, and Fragrant Sumac are just five of the many great choices you can see on an easy Sunday afternoon visit. Master Gardeners Alvin Calhoun and Mary Ellen Green and their crew deserve thanks for their dedication and hard work since this plan was adopted in 2018. There are many lovely native plant choices at nearby garden centers. Meadow Farms has thoughtfully grouped many Native Perennials together to make it easier.

Lawns, even small ones, are still popular, and many of us want to keep at least a small one. They are considered 'thirsty' for water, and no species of lawn grasses are well suited to this climate. Where possible, VCE advice is to enlarge shrub and perennial borders (which can be done slowly), or consider using a 'hardscape' solution like the patio of a restaurant downtown that invites one to be outdoors.

The multi-stemmed River Birch is just one of many smaller trees that grows fast, can fill an area between houses, and casts light and airy shade in the process. Enlarging the area adds interest and reduces some of the lawn. Mulching landscaped areas (not tree trunks!) keeps the moisture from evaporating quickly, and keeps soil temperatures cooler. Other native small tree choices at Cedell include Buttonbush, Fringetree, and Sweet Bay Magnolia. There are many others; consider Redbud, Amur Maple, and Paperbark Maple. These and several others are visible at Cossey Botanical Park which is adjacent to the Fredericksburg Dog Park in downtown Fredericksburg.

If you enjoy volunteer work, and want to learn more about plants and where and how to plant them, call the VCE office soon (540-658-8000) and get your name on the Master Gardener Fall class list. There is a fee, and the class starts right after Labor Day meeting Tuesday and Thursday mornings until just before Thanksgiving. Come join us; there's lots to learn!