Every gardener knows that plants sometimes struggle. You try to coax them back to health. If they die, you generally replace them with the same variety, especially if mates are in the same bed.

A drought upends that “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again” mentality. Some plants in some places are simply dead ends. Lorene Edwards Forkner, Editor of Pacific Horticulture paraphrased sage advice from garden writer Amy Stewart’s The No-Water California Garden:

1. Plant drought tolerant plants.
2. Wait and see what dies.
3. Plant more of what didn’t die.

I agree wholeheartedly. Even better is to amend #3 to “Plant more of what is doing well, or nothing at all,” a philosophy in keeping with Do Less to Get More.

I keep relearning this lesson. Three years ago, we planted Ceanothus ‘Dark Star’ near a towering old pine. I replaced some four times, and when clearly a lost cause, instead planted Lavandula ‘Goodwin Creek Grey’ which thrived nearby. Those died too, were replaced, and died again. Nature trumps nurture.

Since rationing began, I find I begrudge half-dead plants’ consumption. I want every precious drop to work its garden wonders. Early on, I discovered and plugged active emitters for more than 100 plants that were dead, troubled, or gone. Irrigating just 10 of them for an hour each week squandered almost 100 gallons each month. You could take 8 five-minute showers for that!

Issuing the new Sustainable Gardener’s Manifesto:

1. Plant drought tolerant plants.
2. Wait and see what dies.
3. Plant more of what is doing well, or nothing at all.
4. Plug all unused emitters.