Gardening with less Water
Contrary to the popular image of a water saving landscape consisting solely of cacti in a dusty area of rocks and pebbles, drought-tolerant Mediterranean natives are very attractive. If you are prepared to follow a few simple steps, with little water, expense and labour, an evergreen flowering garden throughout the year will be yours.Plan your garden - Locate permanent elements and determine which plants need water. There may not be more than a few in an otherwise drought-tolerant area. A well-planned garden has pronounced horizontal lines. They give structure to the garden and prevent erosion. Consider winds and their drying out effect and find out where protection is essential. Create plant cover and shade - Evergreen vegetation retains soils, protecting it year-round from dehydration. A lush plant cover suppresses competing weeds. Shade is nature’s way of keeping down leaves’ transpiration. Shade attenuates sun reflection, decreases evaporation from the soil, protects soil, retains air humidity and refreshes the air.
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