Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Wisteria Growing Like Crazy & Xeriscaping, Tuesday 8-7-12

Wisteria on the Back Porch

Wisteria on the Front Porch

Wisteria on Courtyard Picket Fence

In the garden today, Wisteria is loving the heat. When we first moved here 6 years ago, I wanted to cover every Inch of yard space with a beautiful cottage garden. Older & wiser, I realize I don't want to water that amount of space during triple digit 100* days. Last year, the drought made it obvious that I needed to condense my watering.

A Xeriscape is having the moist plants together close to the house & native plants requiring less water further away. Thank goodness, the wisteria, quince, pear tree, redbud, crepe myrtle, 2 established hydrangeas & established azaleas survive the high heat. Along with drought tolerant annuals, they are my go to plants for outside the moist courtyard.

The courtyard is a smaller space between the picket fence, the house & garage, which I will keep watered through the summer. This spring, I started by bring the hydrangeas in from the fence lines, but I left 1 very established hydrangea at the back of the house, 2nd established hydrangea & a 2 year old hydrangea in front of the garage. The 3 smaller hydrangeas I did move beside the garage, which can be seen from the living room window. The young hydrangeas have struggled along, but seem better since the 1st of August. When rain returns in the fall, I'll move the 2 year old hydrangea from in front of the garage. I just didn't want to risk losing it with the heat.

The plan is to establish rosemary along the front walk & continue Xeriscaping the remaining yard. Also, tree planting on the west side, it's pretty bare & open from taking down a very leaning pecan tree. There will be other adjustments to the garden, a deck, patio, new plants, etc., just like every year. In the end, we will have a beautiful cottage garden, just one that conserves water.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Pretty good in organizing ah, but I wonder how was the adjustment, I am curious on how you manage the deck and patio ?

Broomfield Xeriscape