Make the most of existing features
Every garden is unique and yours will probably have some exciting features that you can use to your advantage to create a beautiful and water efficient garden. Natural features can set the scene for a design and you will be far more successful if you use them, rather than try to create something which does not suit the site.
Rock formations, existing trees, mounds of earth, a natural gully or slope, silhouettes of neighbouring trees and attractive views can all form the basis for a beautiful garden design. These features can be used to advantage in planning design and planting of your garden to make it water efficient.
Here are a few suggestions which may help you to take advantage of your existing features.
Rock formations, existing trees, mounds of earth, a natural gully or slope, silhouettes of neighbouring trees and attractive views can all form the basis for a beautiful garden design. These features can be used to advantage in planning design and planting of your garden to make it water efficient.
Here are a few suggestions which may help you to take advantage of your existing features.
In brief:
- Discover the best features of your block
- Make the most of run-off on sloping, rocky and paved sites by planting’s that catch the run-off water and use it effectively
- Avoid planting lawn on steeply sloping sites
- Plant in zones with plants with high water needs together
- Consider terraces, with gravels and ground cover plants
- Use windbreaks, screens and shades from trees to reduce evaporation
- In native bush areas grow a native garden
- Match plants with the features, locality, climate and soil type
- Make the most of next-door's garden.
- Use pots and containers for a low water use garden.