As our climate continues to change and temperature extremes become more common, gardeners must adapt. As summers in wide swathes of the country become hotter and dryer, and water becomes increasingly scarce and costlier, we need to carefully consider how to make our own gardens more resistant to drought.
Mediterranean
The characteristic climate of the Mediterranean region (including Spain, Greece, Cyprus, Morocco, and France) features winter rains and long, dry summers. The region is composed of dozens of countries across three continents with thousands of years of rich cultural history. This has inspired a magnificent tradition in garden design that is attractive, low-maintenance, and low on water demand. This style is increasingly popular today because it is easily adapted to other areas where low water demand is a critical element in garden design.
Overall, the essential Mediterranean garden should include six elements:
- Shaded seating areas offering protection from intense summer sun are a critical part of any outdoor area where humans intend to gather. These might range from courtyards to large trees, although open structures encourage air circulation and better cooling. Pergolas, arbors, covered porches, verandas, and gazebos are all excellent examples of this type of seating area, and could be included in a Mediterranean garden. Fun fact: did you know that a gazebo was discovered in a garden design belonging to an Egyptian high court official living in Thebes around 1400 BCE?
- Cobbles, stones, and gravel are natural materials that help define a Mediterranean style garden. Choose warm tones for patios, pathways, and as an alternative for high-maintenance and thirsty lawns. Let your imagination run free: captivating mosaic designs created with pebbles or cobbles served as the earliest examples of permanent pavement.
- Plants are the center of any garden design, and Mediterranean gardens focus on drought-tolerant and low-maintenance plants. Succulents offer the ability to withstand long dry periods as well as fascinating sculptural forms. Plants with silvery foliage are popular since the light color reflects the sun’s heat and helps the plant conserve water. Citrus trees, perennial herbs, shrubs, and drought-resistant ground covers shouldn’t be overlooked.
While nearly any type of pond plant can be incorporated into a Mediterranean garden, it’s important not to use plants that can become invasive in your own climate. In general, it’s wise to stick to plants that are available for sale in your area. For a taste of authenticity, you can choose varieties that resemble plants native to the Mediterranean. White Egyptian Lotus, and one of the dozens of varieties of papyrus are excellent choices, if you keep the risk of invasive spread carefully in mind.
- Colors and Scents are important sensory components of a Mediterranean garden. Bright colors stand out best in the intense summer sun, and warm temperatures encourage both sweet smelling flowers and pungent herbs to fill the space with unforgettable aromas.
- Terracotta pots and containers, jars, and urns are classic elements in a Mediterranean style garden. Large examples can be used as focal points, while smaller containers can be grouped and filled with blooming annuals or aromatic herbs.
When you’re selecting terracotta containers for plants, choose options that are glazed or otherwise sealed to prevent moisture from soaking through the porous material and evaporating. Be sure to choose a non-toxic sealant that can tolerate moisture. Tung oil is a good option but be aware that it will darken the terra cotta. Another option is to keep your plant in its plastic pot and simply place it directly into the decorative terra cotta container. Covered with mulch, this is a great method to retain moisture (and it simplifies transplanting as the plant grows)! Glazed and sealed pots can also be used to hold marginal pond plants or incorporated into an attractive water feature.
- Water is a major component of a Mediterranean garden, which may surprise those who envision the style only to minimize the use of water. In fact, water plays a critical role here, providing a cooling contrast to a hot, sunny day. A partially shaded pond planted with reeds; a grand terracotta urn gently brimming over into a quiet pool; a simple bronze spitter emerging from a stone or mosaic wall and feeding a small gravel-lined channel: the sound of moving water is not only refreshing, but provides a haven for birds, insects, and a rich variety of wildlife. In the end, water is necessary for life, and even in times of water scarcity, it should be present, in some form, in every garden.
Xeriscapes
Xeriscaping is an intentional style of gardening that’s gaining popularity, especially as water restrictions are becoming more common and may, in some cases, last for years. The primary focus in xeriscaping is establishing a landscape that uses minimal resources (including water) to maintain it. A well-designed xeriscape garden should also require minimal upkeep and produce minimal waste.
Contrary to many people’s conception of a xeriscape yard, as a desolate stretch of dry stones with little to no visible life, a full, lush yard is possible. In fact, the same design aesthetics can be employed in xeriscaping as in any other type of garden. To create an attractive xeriscape landscape, focus on five critical concepts:
- Reduce or eliminate grassy lawns, which can consume well over 50% of a household’s water use — and that’s precious drinking water. Former lawn areas may be converted into attractive planting beds that feature drought-tolerant native plants and flowers. Replacing monotonous and high-maintenance grass with gravel, mulch, and visually appealing hardscapes can even open your space for improvements like shady outdoor living areas.
- Choose drought tolerant native plants. Xeriscaping does not equate to a forest of cactus or even a sea of succulents, unless you want it to. Plants that are native to your area are already adapted to the local climate, including rainfall amounts, and they provide important support to the local ecosystem. This is important to keep in mind during plant selection since popular Western natives, acclimated to long, dry summers and wet winters typically don’t do well in Eastern regions where summers are typically warm, humid and wet (and vice-versa).
- Group like needs together. It’s fairly obvious to keep your shade-loving plants together on the shaded side of your yard and place your sun lovers out where they can soak up all they need. But keep your plantings separated by water requirements as well. Planting in irrigation zones allows you to save water and promote healthier plants by neither underwatering nor drowning a few specimens in the effort to keep their neighbors happy.
- Plan for wise water use. All living things need water, even cacti. In ideal circumstances, your established xeriscape garden will thrive on the normal rainfall patterns in your region, but when summers are exceptionally hot and dry, or when an exceptional drought emerges, even the most water-conscious garden may need a helping hand (or watering can). Here’s a few principles that will help you weather the dry period:
- Avoid sprinklers! Keep a few soaker hoses on hand or install a drip irrigation system so you can apply water directly to the roots of your plants during times of water stress. If all else fails, use that hand watering can.
- If you must use a hose or irrigation system in exceptionally dry circumstances, use a timer. This is not the time to waste water by letting it run all day while you’re at work. Water early in the morning before the temperatures rise. If you see standing water or runoff on sidewalks or pathways, you’re wasting water.
- Collect and store rainwater when it does fall for future watering needs. You can find additional information on rainwater collection in BTL’s Learning Center.
- Avoid sprinklers! Keep a few soaker hoses on hand or install a drip irrigation system so you can apply water directly to the roots of your plants during times of water stress. If all else fails, use that hand watering can.
Add a Water Feature. This may feel counterintuitive, since the whole point of xeriscaping is to save water, but the fact is that ponds play a vital role in supporting critical wildlife, combating excessive heat buildup, and adding an element of enjoyment to your landscape. Besides, did you know that once a pond has been filled, it uses less than half the water an equivalent area of sod would use?
