Unprecedented. This word has been used over and over again to describe the conditions that South East Australia has suffered this summer.  Unprecedented heat and unprecedented dry conditions have taken a heavy toll on gardens but we need to plan our future gardening with the expectation that such conditions will occur again. The summer even damaged some plants previously considered to be indestructible.
Gardeners may feel utterly discouraged when they survey the damage. There may be a strong urge to call in a bobcat and remove the lot. But we are an optimistic lot: ‘Next season will be better’, we say, to convince ourselves as much as others. Many of us find the prospect of a garden of gravel, flax and grasses less than appealing. We want our gardens to shelter and comfort us during harsh summer months.

Garden lovers who still wish to create a beautiful and restful garden should not despair. There is a multitude of plants that dispel the idea that a dry garden should look barren and uninviting. Carefully selected plants can spill over with soft foliage, wonderful contrasts of mounding forms, spikes and spires. There is an array of colours and textures and continual seasonal interest requiring minimal additional watering once established.

Carefully check plants that you think have expired before removing them. Cut some stems back to see if there is any sign of life there. In the past, I removed ‘dead’ plants without ceremony and found that they were still alive. Sometimes they will re-grow if cut back, watered and fertilized – it’s worth a try. It was encouraging to see the plants that bounced back after previous summers.

Pay particular attention to the aspect of each section of the garden you are replanting. Consider the amount of shelter or lack of it in relation to garden beds. Are there fences, hedges or larger trees that will lessen damaging winds? Do large trees rob the garden beds of moisture? Garden beds facing west which receive the scorching afternoon sun in January and February need the toughest plants. Garden beds on the southern side of the house will receive early morning and some of the late afternoon sun in mid-summer but will have no direct sun for the rest of the year.

Adequate preparation of garden beds is essential. Add organic matter in the form of compost, old manure, leaf mould and sprinkle the area with blood and bone. Dig generous holes for your plants and add some water-storing crystals to the base of the hole. Make sure the plant has been watered well before planting and water it in with a seaweed solution after planting. Pay attention to the water-absorbing ability of the soil too – is it repelling water after so much dry weather? Most wetting agents are expensive so try a teaspoon of dishwashing detergent to a bucket or watering can of water. Apply mulch to conserve this valuable moisture. It is essential that all plants, even the toughest survivors, receive some watering in their first summer and preferably their second summer to develop deep root systems.

When visiting a nursery, arm yourself with lists of dry-tolerant plants. Don’t be tempted by showy plants that will not survive. These plants have been molly-coddled, watered daily and fed copious quantities of fertilizer to produce a plant that simply will not survive in a normal garden situation. It amounts to fraud. Similarly, poor quality potting medium, often used to cut costs, will hinder a plant’s development and often lead to its demise. Smaller plants will usually adapt and grow better than advanced specimens.

DAZZLING DRY TOLERANT PLANTS
A quick list of 50+ dry tolerant plants for various situations:

MEDIUM TREES
Ornamental pear, olive, Judas tree (Cercis siliquastram), medlar, gleditsia, pencil pine (Cupressus sempervirens ‘Glauca’), pomegranate.

MEDIUM SHRUBS
Oleander, japonica, eleagnus, buddleia, Hibiscus syriacus,  abutilon, sacred bamboo, westringia, correa, callistemon, diosma, euonymous, philotheca (eriostemon), rugosa roses, raphiolepis, rosemary, echium.

CLIMBING PLANTS
Banksia roses, wonga wonga vine, summer jasmine, ivy pelargonium, honeysuckle, hardenbergia.

SMALL SHRUBS, PERENNIALS, HERBS, BULBS
Convolvulus cneorum and C. sabatius, bearded iris, agapanthus, limonium (sea lavender), cistus, teucrium, most forms of euphorbia, lavender, ballotta, artemisia, chieranthus (wallflowers), most forms of salvia, rue, valerian, Plectranthus argentatus, golden marjoram, garlic chives, alyssum, dwarf evening primrose, nerines, freesias, species tulips, grape hyacinths.
Succulents such as cotyledons, crassula, aeonium, echeveria, agave, graptopetalum, sempervivum.

Don’t leave home without this list.
These reliable plants will grow in difficult conditions, so familiarize yourself with these and steer clear of the soft heart-breakers.

All pictures were taken in Nancy's garden.