Your Garden Rescue Plan During A Drought - Australia
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Your garden rescue plan Aloe Dichotoma It’s the end of Summer. There are near-dead plants in my garden; plants that have survived without extra water for 20 years are now saying ‘enough, I give up!’. Where to start? I’m going to ask myself the following: 1. What plants survived? I’ll probably plant more of these. 2. For the plants that died, why did they die? Did they die because they were an inappropriate choice for the climate or because I didn’t give them a fair chance - a. Was the soil improved with gypsum (for clay soils) and organic matter (for sandy soils)? b. Did I establish the plants well before the Summer? c. Did I mulch? Once I’ve answered these questions, I’ll be on my way to an action plan. A big question then will be, what style of drought tolerant garden do I want? We still have many choices, and diversity in gardens is important. Below are water-wise suggestions for three different styles of garden. Traditional Shady trees are important in a Summer garden, not only for the shade they provide us, but for the shade they give to plants that substantially reduces stress and water consumption. Even sun-loving plants appreciate afternoon shade on hot Summer days. Various flowering crab apples (Malus) are hardy and have a medium-fast growth rate. Crab apples are deciduous so will let Winter sun through, but provide shade in Summer. They have wonderful displays of blooms in Spring. Agonis After Dark is a small to medium tree with foliage that changes hue with the season. It has bright flushes of claret/purple during Spring and Summer, deepening to dark burgundy during the Winter. It is a hardy tree suited to hot conditions and performs well along the coast. Chinese Tallow (Sapium sebiferum) is a hardy, small, deciduous tree with a rapid growth rate and brilliant Autumn colour. Evergreen hedges and borders give the garden permanent form throughout the year. Some water-wise options are Coprosma (particularly Karo Red), Agapanthus (Back in Black is a new sterile variety), Cistus, Lavender and Rosemary. For lower borders, there are dwarf agapanthus, liriopes (for shaded areas) and dwarf Hebes (Pretty n Pink is a new variety). Bedding annuals are going to survive on Winter rains, but for a low maintenance option over the Summer, there are summer-flowering bulbs/ corms (lilies, gladioli, iris). Or perhaps, a mass planting of succulents; echeverias in particular offer spectacular long-lasting displays of flowers over the Summer. Modern For a lush looking, low maintenance garden over Summer, there are many strappy-leaved, water-wise options. Cordylines are tall growing, hardy plants suitable for a background or as a feature. There are many to choose from ranging in colour from burgundy- cabernet, lime green to variegated with creamy/ pink tones. A new one is Cordyline Choc Mint . Another quirky alternative is Pseudopanax lessonii Hybrid. This plant is extremely hardy, growing to around 2.5 to 3m. It has green leathery, narrow, serrated leaves and is suitable for coastal conditions. For foreground plantings and borders, choose from lower growing strappy-leaved plants, such as Phormiums (Surfer Green and Golden Ray are especially recommended as good performers), Dietes, Dianellas, and Lomandras. No Water Garden If I had a smallish backyard and/or frontyard, I would be sorely tempted (keen gardener though I am) to pull everything out, improve the soil while I’m waiting for the rains to ensure it was free draining, and then, getting out my pencil and paper, plan a no water garden with a mass display of succulents, complemented by paving (interspersed with pebbles). For height I would choose either Aloe Barbarae or Aloe Dichotoma; they have a tree-like growing habit. Beschorneria Yuccoides (Mexican Lily) would make an ideal background plant to create a boundary or obscure an unsightly fence. I couldn’t resist Aloe Plicatilis for its fan-like clumping habit and scarlet flowers in Summer. To finish off, I would plant a mass of Kalanchoe Bronze Sculpture (Flapjacks) for its stunning red Summer foliage, Echeveria Blue Curl for its cabbage like form and Echeveria Topsy Turvy for its upside down silver foliage and masses of apricot prawn-like flowers in later Summer. I would probably add a few feature pots with smaller growing succulents, like Echeveria Glauca. So, you see there are many options for a water- wise garden. Until now, we have been lucky enough to have an ideal climate for gardening in Adelaide. Now we just need to be a bit smarter with our soil-preparation and maintenance, plant selection and establishment before the hot Summer weather hits. Good luck and happy gardening. BY KATHY ERREY Fact Sheet 4 www.outdoorcanvasplants.com.au available at your local garden centre now Cordyline Choc Mint Echeveria Glauca Green Aloe Plicatilis Kalanchoe Bronze Sculpture Phormium Golden Ray
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Transcript of Your Garden Rescue Plan During A Drought - Australia
Your garden rescue plan
Aloe Dichotoma
It’s the end of Summer.There are near-dead plants in my garden; plants that have survived without extra water for 20 years are now saying ‘enough, I give up!’. Where to start? I’m going to ask myself the following:1. What plants survived? I’ll probably plant more of these.2. For the plants that died, why did they die? Did they die because they were an inappropriate choice for the climate or because I didn’t give them a fair chance - a. Was the soil improved with gypsum (for clay soils) and organic matter (for sandy soils)? b. Did I establish the plants well before the Summer? c. Did I mulch?Once I’ve answered these questions, I’ll be on my way to an action plan.A big question then will be, what style of drought tolerant garden do I want? We still have many choices, and diversity in gardens is important.Below are water-wise suggestions for three different styles of garden.TraditionalShady trees are important in a Summer garden, not only for the shade they provide us, but for the shade they give to plants that substantially reduces stress and water consumption. Even sun-loving plants appreciate afternoon shade on hot Summer days. Various flowering crab apples (Malus) are hardy and have a medium-fast growth rate. Crab apples are deciduous so will let Winter sun through, but provide shade in Summer. They have wonderful displays of blooms in Spring.Agonis After Dark is a small to medium tree with foliage that changes hue with the season. It has bright flushes of claret/purple during Spring and Summer, deepening to dark burgundy during the Winter. It is a hardy tree suited to hot conditions and performs well along the coast.Chinese Tallow (Sapium sebiferum) is a hardy, small, deciduous tree with a rapid growth rate and brilliant Autumn colour.Evergreen hedges and borders give the garden permanent form throughout the year. Some water-wise options are Coprosma (particularly Karo Red), Agapanthus (Back in Black is a new sterile variety), Cistus, Lavender and Rosemary. For lower borders, there are dwarf agapanthus, liriopes (for shaded areas) and dwarf Hebes (Pretty n Pink is a new variety). Bedding annuals are going to survive on Winter rains, but for a low maintenance option over the
Summer, there are summer-flowering bulbs/corms (lilies, gladioli, iris). Or perhaps, a mass planting of succulents; echeverias in particular offer spectacular long-lasting displays of flowers over the Summer.ModernFor a lush looking, low maintenance garden over Summer, there are many strappy-leaved, water-wise options.Cordylines are tall growing, hardy plants suitable for a background or as a feature. There are many to choose from ranging in colour from burgundy-cabernet, lime green to variegated with creamy/pink tones. A new one is Cordyline Choc Mint . Another quirky alternative is Pseudopanax lessonii Hybrid. This plant is extremely hardy, growing to around 2.5 to 3m. It has green leathery, narrow, serrated leaves and is suitable for coastal conditions. For foreground plantings and borders, choose from lower growing strappy-leaved plants, such as Phormiums (Surfer Green and Golden Ray are especially recommended as good performers), Dietes, Dianellas, and Lomandras.No Water GardenIf I had a smallish backyard and/or frontyard, I would be sorely tempted (keen gardener though I am) to pull everything out, improve the soil while I’m waiting for the rains to ensure it was free draining, and then, getting out my pencil and paper, plan a no water garden with a mass display of succulents, complemented by paving (interspersed with pebbles).For height I would choose either Aloe Barbarae or Aloe Dichotoma; they have a tree-like growing habit. Beschorneria Yuccoides (Mexican Lily) would make an ideal background plant to create a boundary or obscure an unsightly fence. I couldn’t resist Aloe Plicatilis for its fan-like clumping habit and scarlet flowers in Summer. To finish off, I would plant a mass of Kalanchoe Bronze Sculpture (Flapjacks) for its stunning red Summer foliage, Echeveria Blue Curl for its cabbage like form and Echeveria Topsy Turvy for its upside down silver foliage and masses of apricot prawn-like flowers in later Summer. I would probably add a few feature pots with smaller growing succulents, like Echeveria Glauca.So, you see there are many options for a water-wise garden. Until now, we have been lucky enough to have an ideal climate for gardening in Adelaide.Now we just need to be a bit smarter with our soil-preparation and maintenance, plant selection and establishment before the hot Summer weather hits.
Good luck and happy gardening.
BY K ATHY ERREY
Fact Sheet 4
www.outdoorcanvasplants.com.au available at your local garden centre now
Cordyline Choc Mint Echeveria Glauca Green
Aloe Plicatilis Kalanchoe Bronze Sculpture
Phormium Golden Ray
