by High Country Gardens
More and more, gardeners have been frustrated by damage wrought by late-season blizzards, hail, torrential flooding, fires or drought conditions. What can you do to mitigate some of these events?
5 Simple steps to help weather-proof your garden

select drought-tolerant and heat-tolerant plant
varieties.
1. Plant drought-tolerant and heat-tolerant varieties. These plants are naturally adapted to high-stress conditions, and will survive much better in times of scant rainfall.
2. Use native and Old World plants from areas of the planet with difficult climates. Plants native to the Great Plains of the US are especially durable, having adapted to weather extremes that are common in this large region. Old World species from the steppes (prairies) of Eurasia and South Africa are also particularly resilient. In general, plants in the mint family (Laminacea; Salvia, Stachys, Nepeta) and ornamental grasses are quite tough.
3. Be sure you have healthy soil. By applying natural and organic fertilizers, composts and trace minerals, you feed the soil’s microorganisms and add nutrients. We recommend Yum Yum Mix soil food, and Planters II Natural Trace Mineral Fertilizer. It is also vitally important to inoculate your lawn and the soil around your plants with micorrhizal fungi (Plant Success Granular or Soluable) to colonize plant roots with these essential beneficial fungi.
4. Mulch. In more arid climates, help your plants conserve moisture by adding a generous 1” to 2” thick layer of mulching material. For waterwise plants use crushed gravel, pine needles or crushed nut shells. For plants that enjoy richer soils and more water, use composted bark, shredded bark or coarse textured compost.

5. Create buffers and barriers. Plant or build windbreaks to shield your plants from the elements or use buildings that provide protected microclimates to buffer your landscape.
Horticulturalist Charles W. G. Smith’s excellent book The Weather Resilient Garden, a Defensive Approach to Planning and Landscaping is a wonderful resource. Smith describes the traits of a weather resilient garden as possessing ‘praus,’ a combination of flexibility and strength. He offers simple suggestions on how to look at your property and the plants you choose with a fresh set of eyes.
The book gives in-depth, practical advice on helping your garden recover from extreme weather events and tips on creating a beautiful and resilient landscape. The book also includes a list of 100 of the most weather-resilient plants. ISBN: 978-1-58017-516-6 | Paperback | SKU: #HAH4BB1 | $19.95
© All articles are copyrighted by High Country Gardens. Republication is prohibited without permission.Blanca Peak™ White Penstemon (Penstemon strictus) is an award-winning white-flowered selection of our native Rocky Mountain Penstemon. Large, tubular flowers are a favorite nectar ...
Learn MoreBlanca Peak™ Rocky Mountain Penstemon Blanca Peak™ Rocky Mountain Beardtongue Penstemon strictus 'WWG06'$10.99 Sale $10.44Sale Price I Save 5%Per Plant - 5" Deep PotBlanca Peak™ White Penstemon (Penstemon strictus) is an award-winning white-flowered selection of our native Rocky Mountain Penstemon. Large, tubular flowers are a favorite nectar source for bumblebees. Plant this easy-to-grow beardtongue for a sturdy, long-lived late-spring bloomer in your xeriscape. This beauty thrives in most well-drained soil with full sun exposure. A 2021 Plant Select® Winner. A High Country Gardens Introduction.Learn MoreA soft orange-flowered selection of pineleaf beardtongue, SteppeSuns® Sunset Glow Penstemon (Penstemon pinifolius) is a native cultivar that starts flowering in late spring and attr...
Learn MoreSteppeSuns® Sunset Glow Penstemon SteppeSuns® Sunset Glow Beardtongue Penstemon pinifolius 'P019S'$8.99 Sale $8.54Sale Price I Save 5%Per Plant - 2.5" PotA soft orange-flowered selection of pineleaf beardtongue, SteppeSuns® Sunset Glow Penstemon (Penstemon pinifolius) is a native cultivar that starts flowering in late spring and attracts numerous pollinators and hummingbirds. Reminiscent of Colorado summer sunsets, its long-lasting blooms add a warm glow to dry area gardens. Finely textured evergreen foliage forms a compact mound for year-round interest.Learn MoreAn easy-to-grow groundcover, 'Purple Beauty' Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata) carpets the mid-to-late spring garden with starry lavender-purple flowers. Whether you are looking for a ...
Learn MorePurple Beauty Creeping Phlox Purple Beauty Creeping Phlox Phlox subulata Purple Beauty$10.49 Sale $9.97Sale Price I Save 5%Per Plant - 5" Deep PotAn easy-to-grow groundcover, 'Purple Beauty' Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata) carpets the mid-to-late spring garden with starry lavender-purple flowers. Whether you are looking for a water-thrifty addition to flow through a rock garden, or a beautiful way to highlight a spring-blooming bulb collection, 'Purple Beauty' will add pollinator-friendly, drought-tolerant spring beauty to your garden.Learn MoreArrowleaf Buckwheat (Eriogonum compositum) is a lovely Sulphur Buckwheat with large, showy clusters of creamy white or light yellow flowers and low-growing rosette of large heart-sha...
Learn MoreArrowleaf Buckwheat Arrowleaf Buckwheat Eriogonum compositum$12.99 Sale $12.34Sale Price I Save 5%Per Plant - 2.5" PotArrowleaf Buckwheat (Eriogonum compositum) is a lovely Sulphur Buckwheat with large, showy clusters of creamy white or light yellow flowers and low-growing rosette of large heart-shaped leaves. Beautiful late spring blooms add playful texture to the garden. Native to the dry areas of the Pacific Northwest, this buckwheat is an essential habitat plant for butterflies, beneficial insects, and wildlife.Learn More