Oaks should be considered as serious candidates for landscape garden trees. In dry climate gardens, the appropriate species are an essential part of water conserving gardening.

A great oak tree has the power to inspire and move us. You may have seen one in a park, or remember from childhood, a fine old specimen, with its massive branches and gnarled bark, growing in a wood. Yet despite their qualities as excellent landscape trees, homeowners rarely choose an oak for their private garden.

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In principle, the best way to save water in dry climate gardens is to reduce the area of grass. Here is a way of saving water in drought years, without killing-off the lawn.

In climates that have long, hot, dry summers, the turf varieties most commonly used are perennial grasses that not only thrive in hot weather, but also develop deep and extensive root systems. These properties can be exploited to reduce water consumption in normal years, and to minimize it during drought years. With the suitable variety and correct irrigation practice, the lawn may look poor under the minimalist regime, but its root system should remain intact, allowing the grass to appear as it should when more water is available in better years.

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The term flowerbed usually evokes images of dazzling color. In practice, the flowerbed often ends up as a disappointing eyesore. Here are some thoughts on how best to plan this part of your garden.

There are a number of reasons why perennial bedding plants, as opposed to annual ones, are used in garden designs. Perennials by growing beyond a single season, are thought to demand less care and maintenance than annuals that have to be replaced every few months or so. In dry climate gardens especially, annual flowers consume significantly more water than any other group of plants, requiring at least 1000 liters per square meter a year, in comparison to some perennial species, which can often grow on a third as much water.

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In dry climate gardens, a professional irrigation system is a pre-condition for successfully growing the garden plants and managing water responsibly. It also makes good design sense.

Effective irrigation and efficient water management are about supplying suitable quantities of water to the garden plants, at the right intervals. Both these parameters differ in accordance with various groups of plants. Trees and shrubs of tropical origin may thrive on soil conditions that are almost permanently moist, while species from dry climates invariably prefer the soil to dry out somewhat between the waterings. Herbaceous flowering plants need to be watered frequently, while under such a regime, herbs are liable to suffer from a lack of air in the root zone.

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