DROUGHT RESISTANT GARDENING
by
Amanda Colberg
of
Garden Design and Creation

For the enthusiastic gardeners amongst us, the hosepipe ban currently affecting an ever-increasing number of regions across the South of England is more than an inconvenience it’s a potential disaster.

But do not despair. With a little thought and reorganisation, you can conserve water, minimise drought damage and still ensure you have a summer garden that’s the envy of all your neighbours!

How? It’s simple……………

1. Improve Moisture Retention in the Soil

Limit evaporation from the soil by mulching soil surfaces. This will significantly improve moisture retention. There are several different types of mulch which can be employed for this purpose:-

a. Organic Mulches

The best organic matter to use would be -

(i) Animal Manure making sure that it is well rotted.
(ii) Mushroom Compost though this should not be used on very chalky soil or acid loving plants.
(iii) Garden Compost when the texture has turned ‘crumbly’.
(iv) Leaf Mould this compost will suit acid loving plants (recycling garden waste into compost makes one of the cheapest soil conditioners).
(v) Chipped Bark make sure you buy chipped bark, not chipped wood. But be careful: when dry and in a strong wind, it tends to blow about the garden!