Drought-tolerant plants can help keep your garden beautiful when moisture is scarce. Here’s where to begin

About this episode

The episode discusses how to maintain a beautiful garden during drought conditions with expert tips from Deryn Davidson.

Unless you have nothing but cacti in your yard, your plants and garden are going to need extra help this summer. In addition to the heat, your plants will have to cope with less moisture than usual. While this week’s snowstorm brought a bit of relief, it won’t be enough to compensate for a very dry winter. So, our guest today offers tips to help – and explains the science behind keeping plants healthy in a dry year. Deryn Davidson is a sustainable landscape specialist with CSU Extension. She often answers questions from the public about native and drought-tolerant plants and xeriscaping. And she sees this moment as an opportunity to rethink how we choose to landscape in our arid climate. Deryn spoke with Erin O’Toole in an onstage interview last month at In The NoCo’s first live episode taping. Planning a more drought-tolerant garden this year? Check out CSU Extension’s recommendations for perennials and other plants . And get expert advice on lawn care in this live conversation with Alison O’Connor , a turf grass specialist with CSU Extension.

People in this episode

Host: Erin O’Toole

Guest: Deryn Davidson

Topics covered

• drought-tolerant plants
• gardening tips
• sustainable landscaping
• xeriscaping
• arid climate

Keywords

• drought-tolerant plants
• gardening
• sustainable landscape
• xeriscaping
• CSU Extension

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: CSU Extension

More episodes of In The NOCO

• In 1975, Boulder County’s clerk issued a marriage license to a gay couple. What happened next made history · June 12, 2026 · 9 min
• Why federal officials are taking a new approach to distributing water from the drought-stricken Colorado River · June 11, 2026 · 9 min
• A retired Air Force Academy teacher considers hard lessons from Iraq, and why they matter now · June 10, 2026 · 9 min
• Why a federal judge handed NCAR’s supporters a (temporary) victory in court · June 9, 2026 · 9 min
• An encounter with a moose can be dangerous. Here’s how to stay safe on the trail · June 5, 2026 · 9 min
• The air inside your home can affect your health. A CSU expert explains how to keep it clean and clear · June 4, 2026 · 9 min