Acropoleos 39, 5380 Dherynia, Cyprus -- Tel 00357 99419530, Fax 00357 23829509
WATER EFFICIENT GARDEN
Drought and water shortage are a reality in Cyprus. Most of the time that is what we have to live with and it has become a part of our life, even when we have wet winters. This winter has not been very nice when it comes to rain. We had very little rain and the result is the inadequate flow of water in the dams and of course the already announced by the government measures for saving water.
So, what can we do to save water? This is a question that we hope that it will start growing in people’s minds and conscience. We will try to answer this question in regards to gardening and offer some suggestions that can be applied in our gardening practices.
Developing a water efficient garden does not mean that we have to let our plants wilt or die. Neither does it mean that we must only plant “dessert plants”. It only means that we will be supplying our plants with the quantity of water they need, or as close as possible, when they need it.
In order to achieve the best possible results and maximum savings in water, all the factors must be taken into consideration; plants, soil, irrigation system, position.
Let’s discuss them one by one:
Plants:
The selection of the plants that we have or will plant in our garden is the first thing to consider. Designing a water efficient garden does not limit our choices to only a small number of plants. Following is just a small list of plants that are quite drought tolerant:
All cacti and succulents: A rock garden with cacti and succulents will not only look attractive but it will also take considerable space, minimising the garden area to be watered.
Palms: Washingtonia, Phoenix dactylifera (date palm), Phoenix canariensis, Chamaerops humilis
Trees: Callistemon sp, Plumeria frangipani, Olive tree, Carob tree, Schinus, Pittosporum, Nerium Oleander, Carissa macrocarpa, Eucalyptus sp.
Bushes and perennials: Geraniums, Rosemary, Carry plant, Lavender, Thyme and other herbs
Soil:
Plants roots will proceed better and deeper when they are given deep and loose soil. This is important since the faster the roots penetrate the soil and search deeper for moisture, the faster the plant will establish and need less water. If you grow your plants in pots, the best way is to mix compost with normal earth soil (red soil in our area). This is the best way to have a mix that will retain enough moisture without requiring constant watering. In order to make our soil like that we have to enrich it by adding compost or manure. Mulching is very useful in any water efficient garden as it blocks evaporation and so keeps moisture in the soil.
Irrigation:
Efficient irrigation systems can save a lot of water. The best methods are trickle or drip irrigation. Overhead watering is less effective as it is less accurate and a large part of the water used is wasted. Moreover, during hot weather, considerable water is lost due to evaporation when watering overhead. Watering with drip or trickle systems must be preferred since the slow, thorough watering resulted is much more efficient than infrequent heavy watering or frequent light watering.
Watering during the cooler parts of the day is an efficient way of saving water. Watering during the heat of the day is the least efficient time since evaporation is rapid. Watering during the evening is quite efficient but there is the danger of leaf diseases as the leaf will stay wet too long. So, the best time to water is early in the morning. That’s when evaporation is minimal and the leaves won’t stay wet for too long.
Position:
Positioning your plants at the right location in regards to their shade or sun requirements is essential. If for a example a plant is suitable for both sun and shade, why not plant it in the shade and in this way avoid excess loss of moisture. Also, by adding shading features in the garden like trellises and pergolas with climbing plants on them, provide shade to other plants but also cool the soil and other surfaces nearby, reducing by doing so loss of moisture.
Maintenace:
Healthy plants are more drought tolerant. In order to keep them healthy and strong watch out for diseases and insect attacks as these will weaken the plant. Also, feed your plants when they need it. Do not feed them however if adequate watering will not be available. Pruning is important. Light pruning will reduce foliage that is losing water. Avoid heavy pruning though during summertime as that will open up the plants too much and will result in greater loss of water.
Lawn is probably the biggest water wasting feature in a garden. The basic reason for this is the notion that it needs a lot of water, something very wrong. Deep thorough watering once a week should be enough, even in the middle of summer. Also, during the summer lawn should not be mowed too low. Mowing the lawn high results in conserving more moisture underneath and so less watering.
We hope that the above information will be useful. In our days of rapid climatic changes, everyone’s effort in protecting the environment is desperately needed by our planet. The first place to start is our own house. So, let’s start by saving water in our garden.