#canton rep

I’m only writing this because every time I mention drought in a story, it rains. It happened again last Saturday, touching off rain Sunday and Monday.

Anyway, if this year’s growing season is a hint of the “new normal,” water consumption will be a big consideration when we choose plants. Some require gallons a week. Others are money-saving sippers that save on hose time and water bills.

Here’s a look at some water lovers and savers:

THE SIPPERS

Shade plants need less water than the sun lovers. Evaporation is much slower in these areas. These plants are accustomed to dry spells and competition with trees for moisture.

Spring bulbs go dormant after their big show and the tops dry. Don’t worry, they’ll return even if not watered.

Ferns store water in complex roots. If things get really dry and they die off, they’ll return next season.

Alpine strawberries, small and sweet, need much less water than standard varieties. Bush berries need water in early season, then less as berries emerge.

Succulent perennials have thick stems and leaves that store water for dry times. Included are sedum, hen and chicks, cactus and agave.

Ornamental grasses including pampas and blue fescue rarely need watering when mature. They crave hot, dry days.

Sage is a desert plant adapted well to most growing zones. Bush sage planted in masses puts on a colorful, lavender show all summer.

THE GULPERS

Vegetables mostly require about an inch of water a week to keep growing. Once the plants have matured and send out tap roots, less watering will be required. With sweet veggies such as tomatoes and corn, back off on the water  before harvesting for best flavor.

Flower water consumption depends on the depth of the roots. Annuals, with shallow roots, need more water than perennials, with deep ones. We’re talking a half inch a week for annuals and an inch every other week for perennials.

Roses require deep watering between periods of drying out. In hot summers, that can mean every other day. Never lightly sprinkle them. Use a hose and give them a good drink.

To stay green, lawns need about an inch of rain a week. Lacking that, get out the sprinkler. Note that heat contributes to browning as much as water. Don’t worry. Only the blades die off. The turf stays strong, ready to spring back in the cool of fall.

Avoid asters unless you have a bottomless well. Their natural habitat is riverbanks.

Sunflowers require very wet soil if you want them to grow to six feet. They prefer a swamp, or a garden with a water-generous tender.

Willows grow best in flood plains, up to 100 feet tall. They send out many rootlets that patrol for water, even growing inside sewer pipes.