Low water zones are sensible way forward

6:50am Saturday 19th July 2008

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THE torrential rain and flooding experienced last summer now seems light years away and we should always prepare ourselves to offset the nuisance of possible hosepipe bans and drought orders.

Of course, many of you will already have a water butt under a drainpipe to catch rainwater, but if you want to create a garden which will require less water in years to come there are a few design fundamentals to put in place now, says horticulturist Ian Cooke, grounds manager of the award-winning University Park at Nottingham University and author of a new book, Waterwise Gardening.

Think about grouping plants and features in your garden that need similar quantities of water, he advises.

“A low water zone would be an area where plants survive mostly on natural rainfall and are unlikely to suffer with drought and high temperatures. These would include succulent plants, silver foliage and spiky plants such as yucca. They will tolerate full sun and a dry, gravelly soil yet still thrive,” says Cooke.

The soil in a low water zone should be well prepared and well drained as there will be some plants in there which won’t stand being waterlogged.

Low water zones tend to be low maintenance, requiring less watering and less weeding, so can be further away from the house, leaving areas closer to home which require more maintenance.

Remember, though, that new plantings will need enough water to develop good root systems in the first season, before they can look after themselves.

Plants for a medium water zone would comprise ornamental grasses, prairie plants, many shrubs and some trees.

“They will thrive in sunny conditions, prefer a slightly richer, moisture holding soil and will require some occasional watering in prolonged dry weather,” says Cooke. Many hardy plants in mild areas fall into this category.

Generous dressings of organic matter will need to be mixed through the well-prepared soil to allow many trees, shrubs, roses and some herbaceous plants to grow.

These plantings should only need watering when they are young and established, or during severe drought.

The high water zone will include soft, lush plants such as vegetables, fruits, herbaceous perennials and lawns that will need regular watering to stay healthy.

Soils with higher clay content will retain moisture better and are more suitable for such plants.

Soil will need to be well prepared with a boost of organic matter. Most of the plants will grow quickly, including vegetables and bedding plants.

Waterwise Gardening, by Ian Cooke, is published by New Holland, price £12.99.