Question
We have been experiencing severe drought seasons the last 2 years I've lived in North Carolina. I purchsed a home last year and gave up on trying to do any lawn or garden care due to strict water conditions. I thought I'd get an early jump on things in the spring and planted a few small bushes and perennials, not to mention grass seeds, all the have everything burn up and now we are back on water restictions..how can I salvage my lawn and garden and have a half way decent looking yard this summer?

Answer
Hi Nikke, With water restrictions, there's just not much you can do but switch to extremely drought tolerant plants. Anything you can plant in the fall will have a fairly substantial root system before you have the stress of next summer, so plant in October if you can.  Check with your local nurseryman about suitable plants for dry areas that are hardy where you live.  For this summer, sedums and purslane would be my choice for color now, if I could not water. As for your lawn, you can buy lawn paint, just like they use on football fields to have a green lawn.  Your local nursery should be able to order it for you.  Sounds odd, but I've used it to prepare a garden for show. Jim