Steele: Choose the right mix of plants for a waterwise garden

Bumblebees and plants have a symbiotic relationship, and we wouldn't have food without it.

image credit: Contributed

I began my front garden after removing all the lawn in 2006.

It is a slow and interesting process, testing plants and procedures to see what works best in sandy, dry soil under a beautiful, mature honey locust tree.

At first, the big empty space was daunting, so vigorous self-seeding perennials that thrived were welcome:

Lamium Beacon Silver, White Nancy and Chequers bloom all summer.

Tradescantia (Spiderwort) has spikey, grass-like foliage topped with small flowers most of the summer.

Geranium phaeum has interesting black markings on its maple-shaped leaves. June-blooming, black flowers produce lots of seedlings.

For the past year I have been digging all these plants out.

I appreciate their good points but their self-seeding is so promiscuous and far-flung that they are overtaking other plants.

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Steele: Choose the right mix of plants for a waterwise garden