Water zoning your garden to save water
In the high water use zone would be your annuals, vegetables and fruit crops and some of your favorite exotic plants that you cannot do without, perhaps some perennials or a camellia. Try to keep this zone of plants fairly small in proportion to the low water zone plants.
In the medium water use zone are the ‘in-between’ plants. Those plants that need occasional watering once a month during dry periods to keep them growing well.
In the low water use zone are the plants that thrive under the conditions of your climate. Usually it is the areas further from the house and those where you plant your hedging and screening plants that cut down on the evaporation in your garden This is the area where you plant native or plants indigenous to your region and the really tough drought tolerant plants that need no extra water once established.
When you are establishing plants in the low water use zone they will need some watering during hot dry periods in the first 18 months to get them established then they can be left alone. Some mulch placed around the roots will also help them settle in faster.
When you design the garden in zones you need to make sure you match the zone to the soil type, the slope and the exposure. The high water use zone plantings, should preferably be in clay or more fertile soils in a sheltered position, away from evaporating strong winds and extreme heat (not the west side or the north west side). Avoid steep slopes too, where most of the water will run off and not soak in.
Areas near gravel or paving will benefit from additional runoff from these areas so this is the spot to plant some of your high and medium zone plants where they can make use of the extra rainfall.
Include in your design shade trees or leafy climber on a pergola, to create coolness and shelter for summer on the north and west sides of the property. If you want to create a water feature, keep it small, locate it close to the house where you can enjoy the view and the splashing sounds from the windows.
When you plant in zones you can still create all the effects you want in the garden that make it a winner. Your plants can still be grouped to create effects an interest with different colours, shapes and textures of foliage. A well designed collection of foliage plants will give your garden colour and interest all year.
Soft feathery or weeping foliage gives a restful effect, bold glossy leaves create dramatic, eye catching effects. Many of the top drought hardy and water thrifty plants are the popular ones for gardens for their attractive grey, silvery, hairy, felty or glossy leaves, which are special adaptations to help protect them from heat and dryness.
In the medium water use zone are the ‘in-between’ plants. Those plants that need occasional watering once a month during dry periods to keep them growing well.
In the low water use zone are the plants that thrive under the conditions of your climate. Usually it is the areas further from the house and those where you plant your hedging and screening plants that cut down on the evaporation in your garden This is the area where you plant native or plants indigenous to your region and the really tough drought tolerant plants that need no extra water once established.
When you are establishing plants in the low water use zone they will need some watering during hot dry periods in the first 18 months to get them established then they can be left alone. Some mulch placed around the roots will also help them settle in faster.
When you design the garden in zones you need to make sure you match the zone to the soil type, the slope and the exposure. The high water use zone plantings, should preferably be in clay or more fertile soils in a sheltered position, away from evaporating strong winds and extreme heat (not the west side or the north west side). Avoid steep slopes too, where most of the water will run off and not soak in.
Areas near gravel or paving will benefit from additional runoff from these areas so this is the spot to plant some of your high and medium zone plants where they can make use of the extra rainfall.
Include in your design shade trees or leafy climber on a pergola, to create coolness and shelter for summer on the north and west sides of the property. If you want to create a water feature, keep it small, locate it close to the house where you can enjoy the view and the splashing sounds from the windows.
When you plant in zones you can still create all the effects you want in the garden that make it a winner. Your plants can still be grouped to create effects an interest with different colours, shapes and textures of foliage. A well designed collection of foliage plants will give your garden colour and interest all year.
Soft feathery or weeping foliage gives a restful effect, bold glossy leaves create dramatic, eye catching effects. Many of the top drought hardy and water thrifty plants are the popular ones for gardens for their attractive grey, silvery, hairy, felty or glossy leaves, which are special adaptations to help protect them from heat and dryness.