Drought-tolerant plants for the dog days of summer

Wasn’t spring grand? All those cool, breezy months of budding trees, unfolding tulips, raindrops on roses, whiskers on kittens. Ahhh… And then BAM! Almost overnight, we blasted into the dog days of summer—those cloudless, parched, blazing hot, brutal days that suck the energy out of both humans and vegetation.

The dog days are when your outdoor containers really need the workhorses of plants. The persistent sun and heat can dry out soil in even the best-made pots, so filling them with drought-tolerant flora will save you from twice-daily watering and summer-plant fatigue.

Give these a try in your thrill, fill, spill combinations:

• Ornamental Grasses. These thrillers will create height and movement in the center or back of larger pots. Their root systems are intense, reaching way down to the soil base where water settles and/or drains out. Consider pennisetum, sedges/carex, miscanthus, and King/Prince/Baby Tut grasses for full sun; hakonechloa, blue oat, and fescue grasses for shadier areas. Water when the soil is dry down to two full inches! Bonus: Grasses work great as solo plants in brightly-colored pots.
• Spikes. Fast-growing and happy to take center-stage, these hardy thrillers shoot up from the center of pots with a sturdy stem and “spikey” leaves. Their roots run deep, so they take advantage of water near the pot’s base. Look for dracaena or cordyline. Green-leafed spikes love the hot sun; those with variegated or colorful leaves prefer light shade. Bonus: Just trim off overgrown or weathered leaves from the stem and it will reward you with new growth!
• Ferns. Often airy and fan-shaped, ferns look graceful and balanced as either thrillers or fillers. They’re fast-growers and require no trimming, which makes them stress-free. Try asparagus, Kimberly Queen, and holly ferns for full sun; Boston, maidenhair, autumn, ostrich, and foxtail ferns for shade. Water when the soil is dry to the touch. Bonus: Due to their shallow root systems, ferns are ideal for shallow pots.
• Ivys/vines. These prolific spillers are never attention-seekers because they don’t bloom. They simply drape their leafy beauty down the sides of your pots, hiding flaws and drawing down the eye, adding grace and texture to any pot in any sun/shade scenario. Look for dichondra, Creeping Jenny, English, Boston, Swedish, and sweet potato vines for a variety of shapes and colors. Bonus: No dead-heading required!
• Bloomers. Every pot could use a little color, right? But which ones can tolerate the hottest, driest summer days? Consider lantana, purslane (pictured above), geraniums, daisies, salvias, and trailing Black-Eyed Susans. They require moderate watering, and deadheading only if you feel like it. Bonus: These bloomers are easy to find at any garden center.
• Succulents. These are the ultimate hot/dry drought-tolerant plants. They thrive on very little water, prefer hot sun, and reward you with slow growth—especially if the pot is tightly packed. Either buy them already potted or do the potting yourself in succulent soil. For variety, use jade, kalanchoe or aloe for height/thriller; add echevaria, pentas or plectranthus for fillers; tuck in sedum, string of pearls/dolphins/hearts or burros tail for spillers. Bonus: The hen and chicks succulent grows quickly and prolifically, making it ideal for a “solo” plant.
• Herbs. That’s right—herbs are ornamental, as well as tasty! Any woody-stemmed herb—rosemary, lavender, thyme, sage, bay—needs less attention and actually prefers hot sun and drier soil. Water sparingly. Bonus: Using the herbs, aka pruning them, is extremely beneficial to health and growth. Snip away!
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So don’t let the dog days of summer stop you from planting up those pots! Just make your appropriate sun/shade selections, pot them up, water them in, and check on them a couple of times each week. The reward is in the happy beauty.