Tips for Drought Resistant Annuals
Most people want at least some flowers in their Houston landscaping design. If you are among this group, consider using drought resistant annuals in some portions of your yard. Perennial blooms will form the foundation for your design which will remain consistent, year after year. Annuals, on the other hand, can be varied each new year as part of a landscape maintenance agreement–adding variety and interest to the curb appeal of your property.
Annuals that are resistant to dry weather will save you money by adding low-maintenance coloration to key areas in your yard. Because they have evolved to depend only on local rainfall, they do not require daily watering. Native plants especially can endure a summer month or two without needing much, if any, city water to survive. The next time Houston limits the use of water due to drought; such plants can maintain your yards aesthetic no matter what is happening in yards along your street. This is definitely a point to consider if you are planning to list your home on the market and want to make sure that your curb appeal is maintained regardless of what the local weather is doing.
There are many such places where drought resistant annuals can be added to create accent, definition, and interest. If you have a walkway leading up to your front door, for instance, spring and summer blooming plants can line the way with a colorful invitation that draws your guests inside. The façade of your home is another such place where a colorful accent will attract the eye of visitors—or even prospective home buyers. Front yard patios, driveway borders, and flower beds around trees can also be lined with blooming plants that can take weeks, and sometimes months, without steady rain.
In some cases this can be done with drought resistant annuals that are native to our ecosystem, or at least a neighboring ecosystem somewhere in Texas. This is not always possible, however, when you consider the many custom, complex, and eclectic forms that Houston landscaping design often takes. In many instances we have to use flowering plants from other parts of the United States, Europe, or the tropics. When this is necessary, we are very careful to use species that are safe to transplant without the risk of becoming invasive and harmful to our local environment.
This is why we always recommend that people consult with a Houston landscaping design expert when choosing drought resistant annuals. Granted, it is very easy to plant your own flowers; and garden centers abound throughout our city. However, some garden centers sell plants that can quickly overtake a yard or neighborhood and choke out native species. Even though they are pretty, their growth pattern can be more like that of weeds, and they may even spread diseases to local grasses, shrubs, and trees.
Letting a professional recommend a spectrum of colorful choices is the best way to invest in drought resistant annuals that will not only take care of themselves during dry spells, but will also grow within the desired boundaries of where they are planted. Being conscientious of this is not only being kind to yourself, but also to your neighbors, who would not want uninvited plant guests creeping into their yard next spring.
