With the risk of drought increasing as time goes on, in line with climate change and rising global temperatures, we’ll all have to start thinking about what we can do to reduce our own individual impact on the natural environment… and, for gardeners, this is likely to mean finding ways in which to reduce water usage and consumption outside.
Of course, plants will need water in order to grow, but you can reduce the amount you need quite significantly by making gardening choices with drought in mind.
Xeriscaping is one such practice that you could adopt if you do want to drive down the water footprint of your outdoor spaces at home or at work. This way of working is all about designing landscapes that either reduce or eliminate the need for irrigation altogether, so you could make serious inroads with your eco-friendly ambitions if you do go down this route.
The most important aspect of this form of landscaping is choosing your plants and shrubs wisely, so that they’re well suited to the climate.
But, as well as selecting drought-tolerant plant species (which we recently blogged about), you may also want to consider swapping out grass for rocks, stone and other such materials, which can be just as attractive when included as part of a well-conceived landscape design scheme.
Installing an efficient irrigation system is also a must if you want to get xeriscaping right. Sprinklers are a relatively wasteful way of watering the garden as they allow for too much evaporation, but you can get around this by investing in drips and soaker hoses instead, which divert water right to the base of the plant.
It’s also not just what you plant… where you plant is also a top consideration for a water-efficient garden. Grouping species together that have similar water news will help you use resources more wisely, as well.
Need the help of landscaping services in Chester? Get in touch with LW Landscapes today.