First, consider what areas require the most water and think of ways you can reduce the water use. For instance, an irrigated area might be replaced with some large beds of drought-tolerant ground covers, such as spreading junipers like Blue Rug, Sargent's, Prince of Wales or Blue Pacific. Other good drought-hardy ground covers include Liriope, Asiatic jasmine, Carolina jasmine, trumpet creeper, day lilies and creeping raspberry. Many Georgia growers produce liner plants, and garden centers can get them if you ask. And don't forget ornamental grasses, including maiden grass, fountain grass and Japanese silver grass.
Ornamental grasses are tough as nails and are unaffected by drought.
Georgia flower growers are right on target with their production of drought-tolerant color plants, including Sedum, verbena, Purple Heart, gaura, Wave petunias and New Gold Lantana. Although they sometimes shut down during extended drought, they bounce back with vigor when rains return. When retrofitting your landscape with more drought-tolerant plants, the key is to get the plants established before summer and the watering restrictions arrive. Then turn off the tap and let Mother Nature provide the water the remainder of the year. You don't have to invest a lot of money to make your landscape more drought-resistant.