Text Box: (improves water retention), water in early morning or evening(more efficient water uptake), plant trees and plants in groups(increase amount of unpaved surface), and select trees and plants tolerant of dry sites. Deciduous trees for dry sites include: Red bud, Smoke Tree, European Beech, Ginkgo, Crabapple, and American Sycamore. Evergreen trees for dry sites include: Atlas Cedar, Chinese Holly, Chinese Juniper, Colorado Spruce, Austrian Pine, Longleaf Pine, and Live Oak. There are also many drought tolerant perennials that are suitable for dry sites. Bulbs such as daffodils, crocus, Star of Bethlehem, and alliums will thrive. Herbs that come from arid climates such as lavender, sage, rosemary, and thyme are drought resistant. Many ornamental grasses need very little water once established, one of which is Pennisetum ‘Hameln’. Sedums will thrive under arid conditions. Visit us at Nursery Services for a more comprehensive list of these wonderful drought-tolerant selections! Text Box: July Newsletter Text Box: Monthly To-Do List · Water plants early in the day through drop irrigation or hand held hose · Re-apply mulch to plantings to help conserve moisture · Aerate and moisten compost pile to speed decomposition · Apply acid mulch to azaleas and rhododendrons · Deadhead perennials to encourage continuous bloom · Remove fallen leaves and debris that can harbor pests and disease · Prune and thin large shade trees to increase light for planting beds · Prune evergreens and deciduous and evergreen hedges into early summer · Fertilize broad-Text Box: leaved flowering evergreen shrubs · Fertilize needle evergreens with acid type fertilizer Feature Article: Growing in Dry Soil Areas – Drought Tolerant Planting A dry site is one in which a plant’s water deficits are likely to be more frequent, severe, or longer than is normal for the local climate. Sites become dry because of insufficient rain(drought), not enough soil volume, and various soil characteristics. Sandy soils drain rapidly, making the soil drier. Clay soils have dry to wet moisture extremes depending on rainfall. Improve soil and its water retention by incorporating organic matter into the top 6-9 inches of soil at a rate of 3 cubic yards per 1000 square feet. For sandy soils increase the number to 5 cubic yards. In addition, drying winds can increase the effects of drought. Here are some recommendations for handling dry sites: install efficient irrigation, reduce fertilizer use during droughts(fertilizer increases salt levels), apply mulchesText Box: Nursery Services Inc. Text Box: Tree of the Month: Stewartia pseudocamellia: Japanese Stewartia – 30-40’ height. All season performer. Camellia-like flowers in summer, bright yellow and red foliage in fall, branching pattern in winter. Makes good accent tree. Shrub of the Month: Hydrangea Nikko Blue: Nikko Blue Hydrangea – 3-4’ height. Medium blue flowers in July. Fast growing. Perennial of the Month: Astilbe simplicifolia ‘Sprite’: False Spirea. 10” height. Abundant pale pink flowers appear in July atop delicate, ferny, dark bronze foliage. Graceful and airy dwarf variety. Quote: Gardening requires lots of water – most of it in the form of perspiration. ~Lou Erickson You can look forward to learning more about “Ornamental Grasses” in our August issue!