Summer is just around the corner, La Niña is a memory and El Niño bringing heat and drought has arrived. We need to prepare for extreme heat and little rain.
Unless you have a water tank (not a bad idea, as 1 mm of rain per square metre of roof can deliver 1 litre of water), you’ll rely on town water or bore water.
Potential buyers will take garden maintenance into consideration. Buyers with young families especially won’t want the expense and the drudgery of a high-maintenance garden.
I’ve put together advice from various garden experts to help you create a beautiful garden that increases kerb appeal while being low care.
Improve your soil
Gardeners talk about ‘exhausted’ soil. This is when the soil has dried out so much it no longer retains water. When every drop counts, the more water your soil retains, the better. Adding organic matter to soils is never bad (unless you have natives that require lower nitrogen content). Organic matter breaks down clay and helps sandy loam to be less water repellent.
Group plants with similar water needs
If you do want to retain your mature azaleas or roses, make sure they’re grouped together so when you do need to water, you aren’t wasting water on plants that can survive on very little rain or watering.
The humble pelargonium (known usually as ‘geranium’) will give colour all year ‘round but can survive on very little water as can agapanthus, with fleshy roots that retain water. Succulents like jade plants also retain water so plant these together with other low-water-needs plants.
Plant drought-tolerant natives
Our Aussie natives endemic to our area can survive and even thrive on low water input.
However, it’s a myth that all natives are drought-tolerant. Grasses are great for drier climates as they’re almost indestructible. You’ll find a great range of beautiful ornamental grasses from the Woodside Plants and Design website.
Native plants endemic to our area are a great option for a waterwise garden:
- They will survive in harsh conditions.
- They create a habitat for native animals, birds and insects.
- They reduce the need for fertilisers and pesticides.
How to save water in your Gloucester region garden
You might find a tip here you hadn’t thought of:
- Reduce your lawn area: I’m not anti-lawn by any means; a lush lawn can reduce the heat load around your house and in turn reduce the need for air conditioning. However, for the next few years you’ll need to sacrifice that green lawn. Don’t concrete over it, though. Add some light gravel or create a plant bed you can mulch.
- Mulch garden beds: This will help to reduce water loss through evaporation. Just make sure you’ve watered well before putting down mulch.
- Work with your soil: Plant natives that are happy to grow in it.
- Increase shade: Shade from trees, bushes, trailing vines or shade cloths will reduce evaporation and cool your yard.
- Install a watering system: A built-in drip-feed watering system is fairly easy to install and means you won’t waste time or water when you need to water plants. If you’ve done as I suggested and grouped your plants, you might want to have two systems so you aren’t overwatering the drought-tolerant plants.
- Deep water weekly: Plants can be resilient as long as you train them to be. Horticulturalists will tell you to deep water plants once a week rather than sprinkling water every day. The plant will get stressed at first but then send roots deeper to find moisture.
What to plant in the Gloucester region
While I’m keen to have a drought-tolerant garden, I’m not overly fond of an all-natives garden so I tend to choose different types of plants. Succulents like jade plants will survive long periods without too much rain. Some small-leaf deciduous trees manage well in drought and they’ll help protect against fires. Natives I love for our region include grevillea, bottle brush/callistemon and of course, native grasses like the beautiful dianella (once it’s established). However, don’t take my word for it; check in with the nursery who can advise you on plants that work best in our region.
Where to buy drought-tolerant plants in Gloucester
We’re lucky enough to be able to find some great plants in the Gloucester region. Woodside Plants at 14 Johnson St carries a good range of drought-tolerant plants. Online, you’ll find natives from Australian Plants Online. However, a proviso: Check your plants are suited to the Gloucester region’s climate and soils.
Need advice on selling your Gloucester region property?
As a proud local, I’m here to guide you through the process of selling your home. I specialise in lifestyle, rural and residential properties. I’ve done it myself and helped many families over my career. So give me a call; I’m here to help.
