Plant smart gardens for summer heat

If your garden is looking particularly parched this summer, it might be time to re-evaluate what you’ve got planted.

 

Gardens can be designed to require little or no watering and this is especially useful for Taupo gardens which, due to the area’s free-draining pumice soil, are often very dry.

 

Through plant selection, garden design and generous use of mulch, it’s possible to have a garden that only requires water while it is being established and in extreme drought conditions.

Taupo District Council’s environmental educator, Sarah Painter, says the easiest way to achieve a smart water use garden is to use plants that grow naturally in dry areas. “Keep a look out for plants growing successfully in your neighbourhood,” says Miss Painter. “Native plants often fall into this category and most do really well in Taupo’s free-draining soil.”

If a cottage garden with an emphasis on bulbs, annuals and lots of flowers is more your style, you can still create a smart water use garden. Make sure the beds are covered in deep mulch, deep-rooted perennials are used, and areas planted in annuals are kept to a minimum.

Formal gardens with a mixture of shrubs and perennials can also be adapted to cut down the need for extra water.

When planning a garden with smart water use in mind, heed the following tips:

· Use quality soils or build up the soil to achieve a deep organic loam.

· Ensure there are minimal areas where soil is left bare.

· Reduce open lawn areas as lawn is susceptible to drying out.

· Use deep-rooted plants that will withstand dry conditions.

· Apply generous mulch cover on gardens – at least 75 mm to 120 mm thick.

· Go for full foliage cover – rather than well-spaced plants – to help retain moisture.

· Use shade trees to reduce the harsh effect of the sun on other plants.

 

This water-saving advice is part of a region-wide WaterSmart campaign in which councils throughout Waikato have joined together to remind the public that water is precious. Council is also reminding residents that the process of treating water and pumping it to your house costs.

 

Some of the key tips being promoted as part of the campaign include watering gardens only in the morning or evening, mulching around plants, fixing leaks and installing low flow devices on taps and showers, turning off the tap when brushing teeth or shaving, washing cars and boats with a bucket and sponge not the hose and keeping daily showers to four minutes.