Alan Titchmarsh starts his article in BBC Gardener’s World (Feb 2006 issue) with the words “Our gardens aren’t what they were 25 years ago, and that’s a fact…”
The secret of good gardening has now become the art of putting the right plant into the right position at the right time and with the entire country experiencing a climate change, and especially the southern part of Britain which has some of the driest counties, it has now become necessary to look at our plants and to find hardy, drought resistant and yet colourful plants to replace the tender water loving plants we have been used to.
Plants are capable of using various strategies to help them to survive hot, dry conditions e.g long tap roots that probe down to find all available moisture, or wide spreading roots just below the surface of the soil. Leaves have adapted in size and structure to limit the amount of moisture lost through evaporation. Bulbous plants conserve energy by going into a dormant state till conditions become more favourable.
It is fascinating and very rewarding to grow plants that should really be in the tropics and yet they seem to thrive in our relatively cold climate and these plants and seeds are relatively easily bought in the UK. Ideally the more we can produce from seed ourselves the more rewarding the gardening process becomes and once again in the light of water conservation we need to make sure that whatever method of propagation we use the best use is made of the water. (The Rootrainer system is an ideal water directed and economic system)
Before we can make a choice of which plants to grow ourselves or buy in we need to understand the concept of hardiness as it relates to plants.
The hardiness of a plant is usually linked with the minimum temperature that a plant can survive on a cold night, but it is a lot more complex than just this one facet. A major factor is moisture – some plants that can survive 0°F in dry conditions but will die when the temperature reaches 15°F with their roots in wet soil. The plant’s age is also an important factor – older plants are usually more hardy than younger ones and this is where the decision to grow or buy must be taken. Another factor which can influence the hardiness of a plant is incorrect feeding and this should be carefully looked at dependant on the time of year.
There are three main categories of Mediterranean or tropical plants. Firstly those with large glossy and lush leaves, then those with spectacular flowers and thirdly the cactus or spiky plants. Of course there are also the grasses and lavenders as well. Plants that are chosen and adapt to dry conditions give the garden a rich tapestry of shape, texture and colour in every season. The plants should be grouped so that they relate in scale, size and texture and form rough asymmetrical pyramids.
Some of the plants you will decide on do require some water and this can be a problem when there is a hosepipe ban so it is essential that provision is made to ensure that as much moisture retention is provided as possible. This can be done by incorporating large quantities of organic material into the soil before planting (The Bokashi system is ideal for this purpose).
At the time of planting it is a good idea to plant a length (about 12”) of drainpipe into the same hole with an inch above the surface. This means that any watering will go straight to the roots of the plant where it is needed.
As we experience more hosepipe bans and drier summers it becomes even more important that we collect as much rainwater as possible when it falls. Water collected this way is free, suitable for lime hating plants like azaleas and camellias, but it should be remembered that this run-off water is not suitable for indoor plants as it is not sterile and so can introduce fungi and disease. Here are some tips on container watering and gardening and seed sowing
- Pot plants tend to dry out more quickly than plants in the soil and pottery containers dry out faster than plastic containers
- When watering containers they should be placed underneath hanging baskets so that the run-off from the baskets will drip into them
- Place pots onto a saucer to prevent water running away and try to group pots together
If you are using the Rootrainer system you will find the following definite benefits for water saving:
- the grooves direct the roots down to the moisture and
- the extra depth allows the roots to reach moisture in the lower levels with the result
- MORE ROOTS.
Rootrainers were designed in Canada for growing trees in the Rockies which are renowned for summer droughts, and they have been used successfully in the Middle East, Africa, Spain and Portugal
Choose drought resistant bedding plants such as alyssum, geraniums, French and African marigolds and petunias or plant perennials such as aquilegia, campanula or heuchera. Remember that even drought resistant plants need watering while they get established. Give plants a good soaking before you put them in the ground and, if the rootball is dry, submerge it in a bucket of water before planting. For a list of sun-loving but drought resistant plants, trees and shrubs contact your local garden centre who would be able to provide you with the names and details.
The beauty of the majority of drought resistant plants is that they are rabbit and deer proof - so yet another bonus for all your hard work.
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