When it comes to sustainable landscape design, there are a lot of things to consider. First, you have to think about how you are going to design a garden which is sustainable and which doesn’t put any unnecessary pressure on the environment or on your surroundings.
Australia is one of the driest countries in the world. Most people throughout the country are on or have been on water restrictions at some point, and this can make it hard to grow certain plants. If you are trying to save water when you design your new garden, then choosing the right plants is probably the most important thing.
Consider the following when choosing plants for your garden to help you save water:
Your climate:
Obviously, the most important thing to think about when choosing plants for your garden is your climate. You need to try and find things which are suited to your climate, as they probably won’t need a whole lot of watering throughout the year.
Above all, you need to think about the heat. Most traditional garden plants are from cooler parts of the world, and they need a lot of water if you plant them in hot places. If you really want to save water with your garden, then choose plants which are suited to the heat and which are at least somewhat drought tolerant.
How much rainfall you get and when you get it:
The amount of rain you get is also a very important consideration. For example, if it rains regularly throughout the year, you may be able to set up some sort of water collection system that will allow you to grow plants that require a bit more water. In the same way, if you have very hot, dry summers, then it could be a good idea to plant a variety of drought tolerant plants. In this case, you could also plant smaller annuals at the start of winter, and then let them die at the end when it gets too dry.
What sort of plants are native to your area:
If you are trying to choose the perfect plants for your climate, then the best place to start is with the things that are native to the area. Although they are growing in popularity, Australian natives traditionally haven’t been seen as good garden plants.
This is unfortunate, because a lot of our natives are very drought tolerant and are able to survive with minimal water requirements. They often have beautiful flowers, and require little care throughout the year.
Final word:
If you are trying to design a sustainable garden in Australia, you need to think about your water requirements. Try and choose plants which don’t need a lot of water, and match your garden to your climate. Do your research, ask people who know about these things, and above all, have fun!
