第2115期:Tough Groundcovers for Dry Climate

Trying to grow grass in the deserts or other dry places can seem like a losing battle. As a result, many people who live in such climates will use rocks, gravel, or man-made materials as groundcover instead of grass. 尝试在沙漠或其他干燥的地方种草似乎是一场失败的战斗。 因此，许多生活在这种气候下的人会使用岩石、砾石或人造材料作为地被植物，而不是草。 But there are several tough, low-growing groundcovers that perform well in dry climates. They may not be able to survive the foot traffic that fake grass can. But they appeal to environmentally helpful insects and in many cases make your property look better. 但有几种坚韧、生长缓慢的地被植物在干燥气候下表现良好。 它们可能无法像假草那样承受人流。 但它们会吸引对环境有益的昆虫，并且在许多情况下会让您的财产看起来更好。Desert marigold, or Baileya multiradiata, is one such plant. The groundcover has pretty yellow blossoms and silver leaves. They bloom in the spring. The plant requires very little water. However, it lives only one season. People who want desert marigold must plant it every year. 沙漠万寿菊（Baileya multiradiata）就是这样的一种植物。 地被植物有漂亮的黄色花朵和银色叶子。 它们在春天开花。 该植物需要很少的水。 然而，它只活一个季节。 想要沙漠万寿菊的人必须每年种植它。 Gold Mound lantana, known as Lantana camara, is a bushy plant usually just over a half-meter tall. Its yellow flowers bloom on and off from spring through autumn and it has low to moderate water needs. 金丘马缨丹，又名马缨丹，是一种浓密的植物，通常只有半米多高。 它的黄色花朵从春季到秋季断断续续地绽放，对水的需求量较低至中等。 Its relative, trailing lantana, or Lantana montevidensis, grows horizontally. Its purple blossoms brighten the garden year-round. The groundcover has moderate water needs. It favors full sunlight but can survive partial sunlight. 它的亲戚，蔓生马缨丹，或称蒙特维登马缨丹，水平生长。 它的紫色花朵全年照亮花园。 地被植物对水的需求适中。 它喜欢充足的阳光，但也能在部分阳光下生存。 Trailing indigo, or Dalea greggii, is another groundcover that grows well in dry climates. The long-lived plant has blue-gray leaves and pink or purple pea-shaped flowers. It blooms from spring through summer in full or partial sunlight. The plant, which can spread to three meters wide, has very low water needs but could use some watering while in bloom. 拖尾靛蓝（Dalea greggii）是另一种在干燥气候下生长良好的地被植物。 这种长寿的植物有蓝灰色的叶子和粉红色或紫色的豌豆形花朵。 它从春天到夏天在全部或部分阳光下开花。 这种植物可以蔓延至三米宽，对水的需求量非常低，但在开花时可以进行一些浇水。Silverbush, also known as Convolvulus cneorum, is a fast-growing evergreen that, in the desert, blooms for about two weeks in spring. The 60-centimeter-tall plant has yellow-centered white flowers with silver leaves. 银灌木，也称为新旋花，是一种快速生长的常绿植物，在沙漠中，春季开花约两周。 这种植物高 60 厘米，开着黄色中心的白色花朵和银色的叶子。 White evening primrose, Oenothera caespitosa, is usually covered in blooms from spring through summer. But they are only open from late afternoon into morning. The white blossoms develop to light pink, and then darken to deep pinkish-purple. The plant has moderate water needs and performs best in full sun to part shade. 白色月见草（Oenothera caespitosa）通常从春季到夏季都盛开。 但它们只从下午晚些时候开放到早上。 白色的花朵逐渐变成浅粉色，然后变成深粉色紫色。 该植物对水的需求适中，在充足的阳光和部分遮荫下表现最好。Early spring is the best time to plant these groundcovers in desert climates. 早春是在沙漠气候下种植这些地被植物的最佳时机。 Gently loosen the soil to about 30 centimeters deep, removing stones and other hard material to permit a clear path for roots. Give some space between the plants. Add mulch or wood chips to keep soil temperature even, prevent weeds, and help hold water.轻轻地松土至约 30 厘米深，清除石头和其他坚硬物质，为根部留出畅通的路径。 在植物之间留出一些空间。 添加覆盖物或木片以保持土壤温度均匀，防止杂草生长并帮助保持水分。 The best time of day to water the groundcovers is in the morning. To avoid root rot, water the groundcover only when, and as soon as, the soil is completely dry. 一天中给地被植物浇水的最佳时间是早上。 为了避免根部腐烂，只有在土壤完全干燥时才给地被植物浇水。