Climate Resilient Gardens

Greener Innovations for the Future

Rand Water’s support for homeowners and communities in becoming responsible water consumers is ongoing. This is demonstrated, in part, by its Water Wise brand. Beyond educating on various facets of water conservation, the brand delves into pioneering methods and techniques for promoting responsible water usage.

Frequently regarded as merely an aesthetic improvement, gardening is essential in addressing the challenges posed by climate change.

Steps for resilient garden designs to mitigate climate change barriers:

1. Hydrozoning: Group your plants with similar watering requirements to reduce the needless use of water. This can be achieved by incorporating the following zones within your garden design:

• High water use zone: Covering 10 – 30% of the garden. This area requires more water (750 – 1000mm per year).
• Medium water use zone: Covering 20 – 40% of the garden. Plants in this zone receive limited water (500 – 750mm per year).
• Low water use zone: Covering 30 – 60% of the garden. This area should receive (300 – 500mm per year) of water.
• Very low water use zone: This zone should cover the largest part of the garden (< 300mm of water per year).

2. Indigenous Plant Selection: As climate change unfolds, it alters ecosystems, thus making it critical to select plants such as Aloe africana and Portulacaria afra (known as the Spekboom/ Elephant bush), grown in the low water usage hydrozone, that can adapt to the new environment and thrive. Due to their ability to adapt to the local environment, indigenous plants need less water (which can also be enhanced by the use of mulch), maintenance, and pesticides.

3. Sustainable Materials: Using sustainable materials is just as important to gardening as using plants. Choose recycled, sustainable, or materials for your gardening tasks that are sourced locally.

4. Intelligent Irrigation Systems: Most reports state that their smart irrigation saves approximately 50 % in water use. Investing in intelligent irrigation systems that can monitor the weather and modify watering schedules is necessary.

5. Carbon-Sequestering Gardens: South Africa is not just the continent’s highest emitter of greenhouse gases, but it also ranks among the top 25 emitters globally. In addition to improving the aesthetics of your garden, planting trees and shrubs helps absorb carbon dioxide. Trees are a natural resource in our fight against greenhouse gas emissions since they emit oxygen into the atmosphere and absorb carbon dioxide. Constructed wetlands also serve as a huge carbon sequester.

6. Rainwater Harvesting: Harvest rainwater by collecting it in a water tank. Remember that 1mm of rainwater is equivalent to 1 litre of water per 1 meter square of surface. You can save up to 30% of water using alternative water sources.

When you include sustainability and climate resilience into your garden design, you’re not just creating a beautiful outdoor space for you and your family to enjoy, but also contributing to global health. As we endeavour to lessen the consequences of climate change, let your gardening choices serve as a statement of your commitment to a more sustainable and ecologically friendly future.

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