Finding Drought Resistant Trees

							Finding Drought Resistant Trees

If you live in an area that is slig
htly parched of water, you know bet
ter than anyone that one of the thi
ngs that decides whether a tree sur
vives or not is your ability to sup
ply it with sufficient water. Unfor
tunately, many people don’t take th
is in to account when buying a tree
. They will just go for the nicest
looking tree, and then wish they co
uld give it more water. If you do a
 little planning before you rush ou
t and buy a tree, you should be abl
e to find trees that can survive on
 lower amounts of water.

Usually the most adaptable plants a
re the ones that are indigenous any
ways. If you live in a zone that is
 suffering a water crisis, usually
the only plants that survive are th
e ones that have been there all alo
ng. This is because they are used t
o the conditions and know how to su
rvive. Just take a drive through th
e undeveloped regions of your city,
 and look at what trees are green.
Find out their names, and buy them.
 They might not be the most attract
ive trees, but you rarely have to m
ake any modifications to your soil
to get them to grow.

One of the trees that will grow alm
ost anywhere without using much wat
er is the “Scotch Pine”. Not only d
oes it grow at a very fast rate of
20 or more inches per year, it is h
ardy and drought tolerant. It usual
ly grows between 25 and 35 feet, an
d it extremely easy to get started.
 Most nurseries sell these trees, e
specially in areas with lower amoun
ts of water. There are many varieti
es available. Many fade to a yellow
ish brown color during the colder m
onths, and this is usually what cau
ses some people to dislike them and
 others to love them. However, ther
e are varieties available that do n
ot do this.

The Rocky Mountain Juniper is an ex
tremely hardy and easy to grow tree
. Its bark also turns a browner col
or during the winter, and rejuvenat
es in late spring. They are frequen
tly used as windbreaks because of h
ow tough they are. These trees are
also great if you are trying to att
ract different varieties of birds t
o your yard. They provide great bra
nches to nest in. Unfortunately the
 Rocky Mountain Juniper doesn’t gro
w as fast as other hardy plants lik
e it. The rate is less than 10 inch
es per year.

Another one of the most popular dro
ught resistant trees is the Russian
 Olive. This tree is impressive and
 will definitely turn some heads on
ce it is fully grown. It is more de
corative than the trees mentioned a
bove, and will reach 20 or 25 feet
once it is fully grown. They are ab
le to grow in almost any soil, and
attract birds with the berries they
 produce.

As you can see, there are many opti
ons for you if your water is limite
d. There are many others that I hav
e not mentioned, and depending on y
our area you may be able to find a
preferable variety. Do a Google sea
rch for hardy plants that will surv
ive in your area, and you should be
 presented with a large list. If yo
u can’t find that list, just go out
side and see what is currently flou
rishing. That is the best indicatio
n of what you should buy.

PPPPP

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