- What Does Drought-Tolerant Mean?<\/a><\/li>
- Key Elements of Drought-Tolerant Landscaping<\/a>
- Appropriate Plant Selection<\/a><\/li>
- Efficient Irrigation Systems<\/a><\/li>
- Soil Health<\/a><\/li>
- Thoughtful Hardscaping<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- How Drought-Tolerant Landscaping Differs From Traditional Landscaping<\/a><\/li>
- Why Choose Drought-Tolerant Landscaping?<\/a><\/li>
- FAQ About Drought-Tolerant Landscapes<\/a><\/li><\/ul> \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><\/div>
What Does Drought-Tolerant Mean?<\/h2>
\u201cDrought tolerant\u201d refers to plants that continue to grow even in droughts. This is due to their ability to maximize how much water they absorb through their roots and minimize how much they lose through their leaves. After a certain point, though, they may go dormant or lose their foliage to survive.<\/p>
Note: <\/strong>The terms \u201cdrought tolerant\u201d and \u201cdrought resistant\u201d are often used interchangeably, but drought-resistant plants are one step up from drought-tolerant plants and generally thrive in arid, low-water environments.<\/p>
Key Elements of Drought-Tolerant Landscaping<\/h2>
Appropriate Plant Selection<\/h3>
![\"Shrubs](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/drought-tolerant-plant.jpeg?wsr\")
Photo Credit: Simone<\/a> \/ Adobe Stock<\/figcaption><\/figure> When you\u2019re in the market for drought-tolerant landscaping plants, \u201cplants should be chosen based on their suitability to those landscapes,\u201d says Abiya Saeed, Extension horticulture specialist at Montana State University. <\/p>
Saeed recommends considering these factors for drought-tolerant plants:<\/p>
- Cold hardiness zone<\/a><\/li>
- Soil type<\/a> and texture<\/li>
- Availability of nutrients in soil<\/li>
- Sun and shade requirements<\/li>
- Space needed for mature plants<\/li> <\/ul>
Here are common characteristics of drought-tolerant plants:<\/p>
- Roots grow deeply<\/li>
- Small leaves or needles<\/li>
- Waxy or hairy leaves<\/li>
- Gray or silver leaves<\/li>
- Can go dormant during droughts<\/li> <\/ul>
Saeed advises homeowners to contact their local Extension office to help determine which drought-tolerant plants would be suitable in their yard. If you\u2019d rather leave plant selection to someone else, find a professional landscape designer<\/a> to create a drought-tolerant landscaping plan for you.<\/p>
Drought-Tolerant Plants<\/h4>
Don\u2019t think that installing drought-tolerant plants in your yard limits you to only succulents and cacti<\/a>. You can plant all kinds of plants in a drought-tolerant landscape: <\/p>
- Drought-tolerant trees<\/a><\/li>
- Drought-tolerant grasses<\/a><\/li>
- Ornamental grasses<\/a><\/li>
- Drought-tolerant ground covers<\/a><\/li>
- Drought-tolerant shrubs<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>
Succulents<\/a> are a common choice for drought-tolerant landscapes and can be grown in outdoor containers, rock gardens<\/a>, and well-draining sandy soil<\/a>. Succulents\u2019 fleshy leaves and stems store plenty of water, so they often don\u2019t need much more than rainfall once established. <\/p>
Native Plants<\/h4>
The native plants<\/a> in your region are often naturally water-smart for a few reasons:<\/p>
- Many native plants grow deeper roots than non-native plants.<\/strong> This allows plants to access more water.<\/li>
- They\u2019re adapted to thrive in the climate conditions of your hometown. <\/strong><\/li>
- They won\u2019t require much watering aside from rainfall once established<\/strong> as long as you install them in ideal sun and soil conditions.<\/li> <\/ul>
Looking for good native plants for your drought-tolerant landscape? Check out a few of our native plant guides below. Then search on our blog for native plants in your state:<\/p>
- 32 Native Plants for California<\/a><\/li>
- 47 Florida Native Plants<\/a><\/li>
- 30 Native Plants for Texas by Region<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>
Specialized Root Structures<\/h4>
The genetic makeup of drought-tolerant plants allows them to grow deep root systems as long as they receive enough water during the establishment phase. These root systems take in as much water as possible.<\/p>
Efficient Irrigation Systems<\/h3>
![\"Drip](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/shutterstock_1995742220.jpg?wsr\")
Photo Credit: Shutterstock<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Drip Irrigation<\/h4>
Drip irrigation<\/a> is an ideal watering method for landscape beds. It reduces water use (less overspray) and water loss (less evaporation) by delivering moisture directly to the roots of the plant. <\/p>
See Related: <\/strong><\/p>
- The Pros and Cons of a Drip Irrigation System<\/a><\/li>
- How Much Does Drip Irrigation Cost?<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>
Smart Irrigation Controller<\/h4>
To determine when your landscape needs more water, smart irrigation controllers are automated devices that measure certain environmental factors, such as:<\/p>
- Temperature<\/li>
- Precipitation<\/li>
- Humidity<\/li>
- Wind speed<\/li>
- Weather conditions<\/li>
- Evapotranspiration<\/li>
- Soil moisture levels<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>
With this information, smart irrigation controllers adjust watering amounts to your landscape\u2019s needs. This cuts back on overwatering your lawn<\/a> and reduces water waste.<\/p>
Rainwater Harvesting<\/h4>
![\"image](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Rain-Barrel.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Ian Mackinzie<\/a> \/ Flickr \/ CC BY 2.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Collect rainwater runoff in a rain barrel. Later, you can use that water to irrigate landscape plants. Recycling rainwater is environmentally friendly because it conserves valuable water resources and prevents stormwater runoff<\/a> pollution.<\/p>
See Related: <\/strong>Rainwater Harvesting Restrictions and Incentives by State<\/a><\/p>
Proper Scheduling<\/h4>
Here are some water scheduling strategies that reduce water waste:<\/p>
- Hydrozoning: <\/strong>Group plants with similar watering needs together. This way, you can irrigate plants in a designated area with only what they need.<\/li>
- Mow in the morning or evening:<\/strong> Never water in the heat of day. The best time to water<\/a> is between 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. The second-best time to water your yard is in the evening, around 6 p.m.<\/li>
- Water only 2-3 times a week:<\/strong> Watering deeply is better than watering frequently. Your lawn needs about 1 inch of water a week.<\/li> <\/ul>
See Related: <\/strong>How Often Should I Water My Lawn?<\/a><\/p>
Soil Health<\/h3>
Organic Matter<\/h4>
![\"finished](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/compost.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Oregon State University<\/a> \/ Flickr \/ CC BY-SA 2.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> When soil is rich in organic matter, it retains moisture longer. \u201cOrganic matter will hold moisture when it does rain (or when irrigation is applied),\u201d says Susan Barton, professor and Extension specialist at the University of Delaware. <\/p>
Here are the types of organic matter you can add to your soil to improve it:<\/p>
- Compost<\/a><\/li>
- Chopped leaves<\/li>
- Finely shredded bark<\/li>
- Rotted manure<\/li>
- Straw<\/li> <\/ul>
Mulch<\/h4>
A layer of mulch<\/a> insulates landscaping plants. Mulch traps moisture and keeps the soil cool, preventing soil from losing water quickly in hot temperatures. <\/p>
Mulching is inexpensive and also prevents weeds in flower beds<\/a> and reduces erosion<\/a>. Organic mulch<\/a> also adds nutrients to the soil and plants over time.<\/p>
- Mow in the morning or evening:<\/strong> Never water in the heat of day. The best time to water<\/a> is between 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. The second-best time to water your yard is in the evening, around 6 p.m.<\/li>
- Hydrozoning: <\/strong>Group plants with similar watering needs together. This way, you can irrigate plants in a designated area with only what they need.<\/li>
- How Much Does Drip Irrigation Cost?<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>
- 47 Florida Native Plants<\/a><\/li>
- They\u2019re adapted to thrive in the climate conditions of your hometown. <\/strong><\/li>
- Drought-tolerant grasses<\/a><\/li>
- Drought-tolerant trees<\/a><\/li>
- Soil type<\/a> and texture<\/li>
- Efficient Irrigation Systems<\/a><\/li>
- Key Elements of Drought-Tolerant Landscaping<\/a>
![\"patio](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/patio.jpeg?wsr\")