Windy Garden 2

Common name:Spineless Yucca
Botanical name:Yucca recurvifolia

This evergreen succulent is part of the Agave family and reaches 10' tall. It has distinctive blue-grey leaves that bend sharply downward. It blooms with white flowers on 3'-5' tall spikes in late spring and early summer. Leaf tips have spines but they bend and do not cause injury.

Common name:Improved Lantana
Botanical name:Lantana hybrid

Mounding trailing groundcover grows quickly to 2' x 3'. Leaves are medium green. Leaves and sap may irritate skin. Vibrant summer color. Attracts butterflies. Full sun. Flowers year-round in frost-free weather. If hit by frost wait until spring to prune back. Many hybrids, look for a variety of flower colors.

Common name:Toothless Sotol
Botanical name:Dasylirion quadrangulatum

Striking, grass-like accent grows to 10' x 9'. Leaves are smooth. Forms dense, soft rosettes of narrow leaves that work well around swimming pools, or areas or heavy foot traffic. Needs space. Full sun and reflected heat. Very drought tolerant. Needs good drainage. An excellent container plant. Native to Mexico.

Common name:Prairie Sky Switch Grass
Botanical name:Panicum virgatum 'Prairie Sky'

This perennial grass will grow 2-4' tall and 2-4' wide. It has narrow, deep green and gray green leaves with slender, light flowers that bloom in midsummer.

Soils and Compost:

Maintain a two to four inch layer of mulch on the soil surface to reduce weeds, infiltrate rain water, and reduce compaction.

Water Saving Tip:

Different areas of your landscape have different water requirements.

Shrubs need much less water than lawns and drip systems should never be scheduled on the same program with lawns.

Establish separate watering schedules for those areas.

Integrated Pest Management:

Attract, or buy beneficial insects such as ladybugs and lacewings to control pest outbreaks in your garden.