All the Dirt on Gardening

If you want your home or patio to look its best, plants can contribute a lot. With the prediction that 2013 spring and summer are going to be very similar to the past two, gardeners need some new ideas. What we need is plants to replace the water-lovers, the older plants, and the plants that thrived in pre-drought conditions. The difference between caring for your former plants and the drought tolerant ones is that you have to be sure to add enough compost that the soil drains well. Most drought-tolerant plants cannot thrive in wet dirt. Here are some selections to consider when looking for lower-maintenance, heat-tolerant plants that need about an inch of water a week. Echinacea or Coneflowers are perennials that can be started from seed or purchased as plants. There are dozens of colors, flower shapes and heights to choose from. A few of the newer series include Let’s Boogie (plants only), Sombrero (plants only) and the All-America Selection PowWow Wild Berry that can be ...