NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 14, 1998

FINAL LANDSCAPE CARY STYLE FOCUSES ON DROUGHT RESISTANT PLANTS & SHRUBS

CARY, NC -- The Town of Cary concludes its summer water conservation campaign with the distribution of the fifth and final issue of Landscape Cary Style--the monthly Town publication which discusses different landscaping topics that promote good water practices. The final topic, drought tolerant plants, gives people information on choosing and using the heartiest and most beautiful varieties of water-friendly plants available in the area. A complete list of the areas best drought resistant plants is available from Cary’s Water Conservation Program or on the Town’s When to Water Website, <www.townofcary.org>.

"A lot of beautiful plants, especially those native to North Carolina, thrive during our hot, dry summers," said Cary’s Water Conservation Specialist Jennifer Platt. "We want to help citizens find effective ways to develop and preserve lush, colorful lawns and gardens by being water-wise and using drought tolerant plants."

Each issue of Landscape Cary Style is posted in its entirety on the Town’s website as well as distributed to the media. Pocket-size versions go to Cary homeowners via utility bills, and displays have also been placed in participating lawn & garden centers, including: Apex Nurseries, Cary Garden Center, Fairview Greenhouses & Garden Center, Garden Supply Company, Family Home and Garden, Ace Hardware, Home Depot, Lowe's Garden Center, Kmart Garden Center, Target Garden Center, WalMart Garden Center, Cloer Nursery Company, and Campbell Road Nursery.

"We've gotten a lot of interest from citizens on ways to make their landscapes more water-wise," said Platt. "The information in this series has provided a wide scope of valuable information, ranging from design to landscape material to efficient watering."

Landscape Cary Style is part of Cary’s larger "Beat-the-Peak 98", the Town’s most comprehensive water conservation campaign to date. The goal of "Beat-the-Peak 98" is to significantly reduce Cary’s peak water demand by promoting wise water use, especially outdoors.

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PRIMARY CONTACTS: Jennifer Platt, Water Conservation Specialist, 462-3872
Bill Coleman, Town Manager, 469-4002
Susan Moran, Public Information Officer, 460-4951

MEDIA NOTE: THE 2 PAGE LCS FOLLOWS THIS RELEASE.

Landscape Cary Style

Using Drought-Tolerant Plants & Shrubs

Using drought-tolerant plants doesn't mean having a landscape of cacti, rocks and sand. It means having a landscape that is practical as well as visually pleasing. Our climate is characterized by hot, humid summers with periodic droughts that usually last less than 3 weeks. Choosing plants native to North Carolina or plants that flourish during dry spells allows you to conserve water, time and money. Many of these plants will perform well for 2-3 weeks with no rainfall or irrigation. Best of all, drought-tolerant plants can give you a beautiful landscape without sacrificing color or beauty.

What is drought-tolerant? - It’s simple really. Drought-tolerant plants are those plants, shrubs and trees that require less water to live in Cary’s natural climate and soil. These plants have adapted to our soil and rainfall levels, and tend to be more pest and disease resistant.

Pick the Right Plants - Choosing the appropriate drought-tolerant plants for your landscape is important. Ask your local garden center representative to show you plants that are native to our area. Always group plants according to soil, water and sunlight needs making sure that they are compatible with the landscape design as well. Spend some time thinking about your landscape before you start planting. A well-designed area not only is more enjoyable to look at, but it’s better for your plants and can reduce maintenance time.

Drought-tolerant plants, shrubs and trees come in a variety of sizes and shapes. Here are just a few of the possible choices available at your local nursery: English ivy, clematis, black-eyed susan, verbena and purple coneflowers. Dwarf aucuba, barberry, boxwoods, glossy abelia, hollies and juniper are also popular selections. You can’t overlook the beauty of nandina, flame azalea, Carolina rhododendron and forsythia. Favorite drought-tolerant trees include crape myrtle, red maple, river birch, flowering crabapple and a variety of oaks.

Pick the Right Time - Fall is the best time for planting. Planting now allows enough time for plants to become well-established before cold weather sets in and provides additional root growth before dry spells that may occur during the next growing season. With proper plant selection, installation and establishment, drought tolerant plants can survive up to 3 weeks without watering.

Even when using drought-tolerant plants, shrubs and trees, it is important to learn to recognize signs of stress. Besides obvious signs of wilting, plants give off other distress signals like dull or droopy foliage, premature dropping of leaves and poor flower production. Bottom line, keep an eye on your plants!

Don’t Sacrifice Beauty - A large selection of drought-tolerant plants live and thrive in our area. Once they’re established (1 full year after planting), drought-tolerant plants can survive weeks without supplemental irrigation. It’s just their "nature" to live on the water nature provides!

You can add spectacular purples, blues, yellows, reds, pinks and bright whites to your landscape by choosing drought-tolerant plants. Several drought tolerant annuals that will add this spectacular color include pansies (purple, blue, yellow, white and fuchsia), petunias (white, pink, red, purple, blues and candy-stripped) and zinnia (every color of rainbow). In addition, the zinnia, spider flower and African daisy add great texture to any landscape. The zennia and African daisy both have long, full petals.

Bring in the ‘Flies & Birds - We’re talking about butterflies and hummingbirds! Many drought-tolerant plants are favorites of these garden visitors. Two plants indigenous to our area are the butterfly weed and pineapple sage.

Save Water & Money - Part of the fun of landscaping is enjoying it. Drought-tolerant plants give you more time to do just that. By including water-smart plants in your landscape, the time spent maintaining your property can be significantly reduced. Not only can you reduce your water bill, but you can reduce maintenance costs. By focusing on plants that prefer Cary’s weather and soils, you reduce the expense of replacing less-hearty plants.

For a complete list of drought-tolerant plants or information on planting techniques, contact the Department of Public Works and Utilities at 469-4393.

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Town of Cary Water Conservation Program
Department of Public Works and Utilities
Conserve Because You CAN