Grow a Lush Container Garden – One Drip at a Time

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Rich Binsacca and Susan Mason

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Plants that are native to arid or hot climates have already adapted to lack of water and are a good choice for planting in containers.

Living in a dry or warm climate doesn’t mean you can’t garden. Even if you live in the desert, where even shady spots are parched, or a plain where you can almost see the wind sapping moisture from the ground, you can still grow a thriving container garden. The trick is all in picking the proper plants, potting soil, pots and watering system.

First off, it’s wise to pick drought-tolerant plants from the start. Such species are commonly native to arid places. But don’t think this limits your choices to cacti! There’s a whole host of intriguing plants out there – including trees, shrubs, grasses and flowers – that adapt well or are naturally comfortable growing in dry conditions, as well as in containers.

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An automatically timed drip irrigation system is an effective way to keep potted plants adequately watered, regardless of climate or season. Some can even be equipped with moisture sensors that water only when the plants need it.

Don’t forget to consider what you plant those plants in. Applying organic mulches – including peat moss, manure and compost – helps retain moisture in a container’s medium, provide nutrients and generally maintain good plant health. While inorganic mulches (perlite or sand) don’t add nutrients, they’re effective in slowing drainage when a plant is watered in well, giving your container garden more time to absorb that life-giving resource.

Because the pots you use also have an impact on moisture retention, be as judicious in your container choice as in your plant selection. Unglazed terra-cotta, for instance, is highly porous – as are wire-mesh hanging baskets. Airflow and heat will zap the water right out of them. Glazed terra-cotta and wood containers, on the other hand, retain moisture much better. Another option is to place those porous containers inside decorative cachepots. This helps the inner pots retain the moisture by limiting air contact, as well as insulates them from the sun’s direct rays.

Facts

In winter or dormant months, watering needs can shift dramatically to the low end of the scale – often to once a week or less. For outdoor container plants in cold climates, late morning is often the best time to water. (And if there’s a threat of frost, hold off.) Watering in the evening is best avoided altogether, as it can promote disease.
A drip system makes caring for your plants a little easier and gives you more free time – to plant, prune and propagate in your garden.

Tips

Even in typically warm-winter regions, frosts and freezes can persist. If below-freezing temps look as if they’re going to stick around for a bit, disconnect your main hose until the weather warms up so you don’t have problems with your system. If your plants can’t handle the cold, move them inside, too.
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Definitions

Xeriscaping – the art of water-efficient landscaping – was developed as a water-conservation method in the 1970s to promote the use of drought-resistant plants native to dry climates. The word “Xeriscape” was coined by combining xeros (Greek for “dry”) with landscape. (Xeriscape™ and the Xeriscape logo are registered trademarks of Denver Water, the water department of Denver.)
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