Whether you believe in climate change or not, there’s no denying that weather patterns over recent years have become increasingly erratic, and this doesn’t look as though it’s going to change anytime soon. This means that, when investing in new trees for your garden, you should ideally be looking for those that are capable of adapting to our fluctuating climate.
With experts predicting that excessively hot and dry summers will soon become the norm, here are three drought-tolerant trees that won’t have any problems dealing with that.
The Yucca Filifera
Being native to the arid regions of Mexico and the USA means that the Yucca Filifera will happily grow in dry soil. Not only is this a drought-tolerant tree, but it’s salt-tolerant too, making it perfect for those living near the coast.
You’re probably aware of the fact that there are several yucca varieties out there, so what makes the yucca filifera special? Well, for starters, it’s one of the fastest growing yuccas available. It also happens to be visually stunning – it’s a great tree for those looking to give their garden an exciting new focal point.
The Tree Aloe
Since succulents store large amounts of moisture in their thick, fleshy leaves, they’re able to handle long dry spells. Most people think of succulents as being cute little houseplants, but they come in tree-form too! The tree aloe, also known as the Aloe Barberae, is a prime example.
This is a tree that’s fast-growing, tall, low-maintenance, and extremely drought-tolerant. It also boasts medicinal properties – just like aloe vera, the gel that you’ll find in tree aloe leaves is extremely soothing when applied topically. The only downside to the tree aloe is that it’s not frost-hardy. However, if frosts are rare in your area, this won’t matter too much, especially since the tree can easily be protected if an unexpected frost is forecast to hit.
The Grass Tree
Not only do experts predict hotter and drier summers, but many also say that winters could end up being colder than usual. So, while drought-tolerance is handy to an extent, you may want to look for a tree that’s also frost-tolerant, especially if you’ve noticed winter temperatures dropping in your area in recent years.
One tree that meets this criteria would be the Glauca grass tree. It requires very little care as well – so long as you plant it in the right spot, it’ll happily thrive for years without much intervention required on your part. That said, this is only really true of established grass trees – be prepared to give a newly-planted grass tree a little extra attention for a couple of years, until it has set its roots and is able to care for itself.
Summary
With the environment changing at such a rapid rate, it’s important that your garden is able to keep up. Prolonged hot and dry spells can be fatal for many trees, which is exactly why more and more people are now opting for the three species mentioned above!