Forum home› Garden design
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Trying to redesign my garden - affected by climate change

petervhpetervh Posts: 7
in Garden design
I am living in the north of Belgium in Genk, close to Maestricht. The soil in my garden is very sandy - water is around 40 meter below the surface. In 2018, we had a very dry summer - lots of flowers, including my collection of geraniums died completely. This year, just awful: since more than 6 weeks no rain at all. Even the leaves of the cherry tree are sadly hanging down because of the drought. And whereas the normal average temperature is between 10 - 15 °C, this year, temperature is going up every day to 22-27 degrees. Just like we are suddenly living in a desert. The pond in the middle of the garden is nearly dry.
During winter months, I try to collect as much rain water as possible, but even this is only good to bridge a few months. 

Last year I installed a dripper system (from irrigatia with a solar panel), which is really excellent to save water, but I use it only for the vegetable garden and the greenhouse.

I am now planning to redesign my garden to make it more climate resistent. In front of my house, I already planted mediterranean herbs as well as a fig tree and they seem to cope well with the new situation. 

Any suggestions or ideas on how to further adapt the garden to the new weather conditions, are more than welcome! 

Posts

  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
    edited April 2020
    Well I have heavy clay soil and you have the opposite with a light, sandy soil, but the solution to improving the growing conditions is the same - dig in lots and lots of compost, manure, any organic matter you can get hold of. This will help with both nutrient and water retention, and cushion your plants against swings in temperature. My climate is very variable, with lows of -8c and summer temperatures averaging around 35c, sometimes much higher. It can be very wet or very dry. My garden is not that large but I have dug in 16 cubic metres of organic material, bought in bulk bags. I grow a wide range of trees, shrubs and perennials, plus have a productive vegetable garden. I water very deeply once or twice a week in summer. 

    If you cannot afford to improve your soil significantly and/or it’s impractical to water your whole garden regularly, consider growing precious plants in raised beds and focus your energies on those.

    I’m afraid it is difficult to suggest more as our climates and soils are so different, but hopefully others will contribute with more specific advice.
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • petervhpetervh Posts: 7
    Thanks Nollie, excellent suggestion. From the quantities of organic material you mention, I see it is relly important to dig in a lot. I have  garden of some 500 m2, but will consider to do this bit by bit - and maybe build some raised beds for the precious plants. 
  • SlumSlum Posts: 385
    I have no personal experience to share but have you looked at Beth Chatto’s gravel garden? https://www.bethchatto.co.uk/gardens/gallery/gravel-garden.htm


  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
    You are welcome Petervh. I should have added that in addition to improving my soil, I do choose plants carefully to suit my conditions. Here they need to be able to take my fierce summer heat and be drought tolerant -which doesn’t mean they don’t need watering, just that they will tolerate less water than other plants. It’s  also a matter of personal taste, I dislike grasses, for example. You could have a look at prairie style planting, @Slum’s suggestion of Beth Chatto’s garden for inspiration is an excellent one, plus google Derek Jarman’s garden for sandy conditions.
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • UpNorthUpNorth Posts: 376
    Fear not Peter, plenty of drought tollerant plants for your sand.

    Euphorbia wolfenii, mellifera, Robbeii.  All propogate easily too, useful if you're trying to fill a garden.

    My dryopteris Felix mas, fern, does really well when settled a few years.

    Dogwood cornus does well in dry sun

    Lavender

    There's loads.   Depends what look you're after.   

    Lookup up lists on Google for dry dandy soil, and start planning!   


  • petervhpetervh Posts: 7
    Nollie said:
    You are welcome Petervh. I should have added that in addition to improving my soil, I do choose plants carefully to suit my conditions. Here they need to be able to take my fierce summer heat and be drought tolerant -which doesn’t mean they don’t need watering, just that they will tolerate less water than other plants. It’s  also a matter of personal taste, I dislike grasses, for example. You could have a look at prairie style planting, @Slum’s suggestion of Beth Chatto’s garden for inspiration is an excellent one, plus google Derek Jarman’s garden for sandy conditions.
    Thanks fo this Nollie. I am currently following the second part of the KLC online design course in Chelsea, and have been reading a lot about drought tolerant plants as well as about grasses, but indeed even these plants need watering from time to time. Thanks also for th elink to Derek Jarman's garden, really interesting!

  • petervhpetervh Posts: 7
    Slum said:
    I have no personal experience to share but have you looked at Beth Chatto’s gravel garden? https://www.bethchatto.co.uk/gardens/gallery/gravel-garden.htm

    Beth Chatto is indeed an excellent reference. Lots of good ideas to start working on! Thanks!
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
    Sounds like a good course, Peter, with climate change it’s always good to hear about drought tolerant plants. Sometimes you just have to try things as well. I have made a good number of mistakes along the way over the last 4 years in this garden, but that’s how I am learning. There are plants that do well in my garden that logically shouldn’t, and some so-called drought-tolerant ones that need a surprising amount of water to survive. Lavender never does well here, no matter how much grit I dig in to improve drainage (not a problem for you, I suspect!). Improving the soil does give you more options, though. My indulgence is English-style shrub roses, which need a good amount of care and watering.

    If you need any further advice, do post some photos and ideas when you have a clearer idea of what you want to achieve - we love a garden design project on this forum!
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • petervhpetervh Posts: 7
    Thanks Nollie, I will certainly post some phtotos and ideas ones it gets a bit clearer! And thanks for the advice!
  • petervhpetervh Posts: 7
    UpNorth said:
    Fear not Peter, plenty of drought tollerant plants for your sand.

    Euphorbia wolfenii, mellifera, Robbeii.  All propogate easily too, useful if you're trying to fill a garden.

    My dryopteris Felix mas, fern, does really well when settled a few years.

    Dogwood cornus does well in dry sun

    Lavender

    There's loads.   Depends what look you're after.   

    Lookup up lists on Google for dry dandy soil, and start planning!   


    Thanks for the suggestions, I will certainly continue working on different types of plants as suggsted - Euphorbia wolfenii is one of my personal favorites, just stunning! 
Sign In or Register to comment.