How to combat climate change in your garden

 

How To Combat Environmental Change In Your Garden

With the possibility of changing climates comes the inevitable pressure for us to improve our local and garden environment. I am not completely sold on climate change, it seems to me to be another money spinner for governments and businesses. But as gardeners we can look at various ways of improving our gardens for wildlife, simply by changing our gardening habits.

Our choice of plants and landscaping options can play a vital role in the improvement of our environment and its ultimate survival.

We, as gardeners, have a responsibility to try to do as much as we possibly can to benefit all wildlife by developing green spaces full of diversity.

How to combat climate change in your garden
How to Combat Climate Change in your Garden

How To Combat Environmental Change In Your Garden

One thing we can do is save rain water and waste water. Using water to keep the lawn green during a drought is no longer an acceptable practice.

Conserve rain water by installing water butts, not only to collect rain from the main house roof, but also rainwater off outbuildings and greenhouses.

We can help reduce pollution and flooding.

Using cordless power tools can also help to reduce carbon emissions.Ryobi OLM1833H ONE+ Lawn Mower, 18 V Review

Plant as much greenery as possible. Hedges, shrubs and trees are much more preferable to fences or walls. Hedges collect pollution, making the air cleaner.

Trees dispel pollution and can also alleviate flash flooding.

How to combat climate change in your garden
Trees improve our environment

Trees also provide much needed shade during a heatwave.

Create a living roof on any outdoor buildings such as a shed, garage, bike store, refuse bin stores and outhouses. My article, How To Create A Green Roof On Your Garden Shed shows you how in an easy to follow step by step guide. Green roofs increase the diversity of insects, pollinators, birds and small animals. They also help to reduce air pollution.

Improve the soil by adding more organic matter and homemade compost. This creates a soil that will store more carbon and aids in water retention and further more, it can make gardens more resilient in either flood or drought conditions.

Make everything in your garden permeable. We as a nation, in pretty much every town, have been responsible for causing flooding problems by paving front gardens.

There are carpark solutions that are permeable so we can have the best of both worlds: parking and a front garden.Plants For Spring Colour

Also trees and shrubs around the perimeter of a car parking area would help the environment.

Planting more garden greenery won’t stop climate change, but it could make our communities more resilient when faced with extreme weather. Gardeners can help to combat heat, flooding, drought and changing weather patterns.

Extreme weather conditions, heavy rain, drought, storms will be the norm in future years. We have a duty to do what we can now in order to counteract the damage that these weather changes will undoubtably cause.

 

Regional Gardening

Recent research looks at lawn-mowing as an indicator of climate change. It shows that in many southern areas of England it is now considered normal to continue mowing lawns for longer into the winter season.

Particularly in warmer, wet areas such as Devon and Cornwall this is the case.

I certainly keep my lawn cut well into December.Ryobi OLM1833H ONE+ Lawn Mower, 18 V Review

The town of Northampton is seen to mark a rough boundary between the two most distinct climate zones in the UK

An RHS study shows how gardeners to the north of Northampton regularly mow their lawns more often in early spring and late autumn, something towns south of Northampton have been doing for many years.

For the SouthWest, it is suggested that we will experience a higher average temperature, approximately 3C higher than it is currently with heavy winter rain and more storms.

It is predicted that many lawns there will become woodland or shrub areas as mowing would have to be a year-round job and there would be no point to having turf that cannot be mowed when it is water-logged.

Larger trees which are more vulnerable to being blown down in strong winds will be replaced with smaller varieties. Slopes will have to be cut into and terraced to help stop soil erosion.

In North England there is a predicted 2C rise with longer, heavier spells of winter rain, more extremes and more storms. Plants will have to cope with sudden condition changes.

 

Pests and Diseases

 

One of the issues we see is an influx of new pest and diseases or the ones we already contend with becoming more and more prevalent.

After the long, hot summer of 2018, in some areas there was an increase in lily beetles and lace bugs, both of which can cause serious damage to plants.

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Lily Beetle

Moles will survive milder winters.

Some of our nations trees are under threat because of the increase in diseases and pests that are thriving in our milder, wetter winters. Or in our hotter summers.

In the warmer, wet counties of Cornwall and Devon we experienced the spread of Fuchsia gall mite. This harmful bug arrived in the UK in 2007 and is rapidly spreading.

There are more fungal problems because of less severe frosts.

Winter is no longer cold enough to kill off harmful bugs, viruses, insect eggs or spores.

Rain Gardens

A rain garden or stormwater garden is designed with the purpose of temporarily holding rain water collected from runoffs that come from building roofs, driveways and patios.

It is a shallow depression formed in a part of the garden that naturally slopes. It is planted around the perimeter with a natural planting scheme using shrubs and perennials.

Rain gardens effectively remove up to 90% of pollutants and chemicals as well as up to 80% of sediments from the rainwater runoff.

In comparison to a conventional grass lawn, rain gardens will soak up to 30% more water.

A rain garden only holds and soaks away water in extreme, heavy rain conditions; it is not a water garden or a pond. In actual fact a rain garden is mostly dry.

It typically holds water only during and following rainfall.

As rain gardens will drain within 12-48 hours, they prevent the breeding of harmful bugs and pests

Rain water runs off impermeable surfaces, such as roofs or driveways. In doing so it collects pollutants such as dirt, fertiliser, chemicals and bacteria along the way.

The polluted water then enters storm drains flowing directly to nearby streams and ponds.

By making a rain garden we can collect rainwater runoff which allows the water to be filtered and purified by vegetation. In turn the water percolates into the soil taking a lot less pollutants with it.

In the design of a rain garden, typically six to twelve inches of soil is removed, compost and sand is then added to increase water infiltration.

It is advisable to do a soil test as this will indicate the type of soil you have and the amount of sand and compost that is required.

Rain gardens should be constructed on the downside slope from your property and collect rainwater runoff from the lawns, roof, patios and driveway. Once water collects in the rain garden, infiltration may take up to 48 hours after heavy rainfall. As rain gardens incorporate native vegetation no fertilizer is needed and maintenance is minimal.

Runoff rain water can be collected by using water butts, this water is then redirected to your rain garden.How to Make a Rain Garden

Depending on the style of garden you wish to design, water can be piped in a natural looking way or maybe by a series of rills would give a more modern, contemporary feel.

 

Which Plants Are Best For A Rain Garden?

A mixed selection of native wildflowers, rushes, sedges, ferns, small shrubs and/or trees will soak up excess water flowing into the rain garden. The different soil layers filter out pollutants, chemicals and bacteria before the water enters the groundwater system.

Deep plant roots also create additional channels for stormwater to filter into the ground.

By having a variety of plants and vegetation around the rainwater garden gives a good root system which will enhance infiltration and help to maintain soil permeability.Perennial Plants. First Year Flowering

Plant roots also provide moisture redistribution.

Also, rain garden plants return water vapour to the atmosphere.

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Save Rain Water

 

Plants for Rain Gardens

  • Cardinal lobelia. Hardy plants that thrive in sun or part shade, in heavy clay, damp or boggy soils.

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    Lobelia
  • Astilbe. These perennial plants have gorgeous plumes of flowers above soft fern-like foliage. They prefer shade and damp soils.

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    Astilbeu
  • Hostas. Another shade loving and moisture loving plant. They are favoured for their variety in leaf colour and size, easy to grow hardy perennials.

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    Hosta
  • Sedges and Rushes. Although slightly different from each other, both sedges and rushes prefer wet soils and can also tolerate deep shade. They add texture and movement to gardens.

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    Sedges
  • Siberian Iris. Spring flowering Iris that will grow in wet or poor draining areas. They are perfectly happy in low standing water.

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    Iris

 

 

If like me, you have a generally wet garden or areas of the garden that are more extremely wet than others, then read on for my suggested plant list, some of which are the same as for a rain garden plus some others that I find perfect for growing in wet soils or clay soils

Plants for Wet Gardens.

  • Astilbe.
  • Hostas.
  • Astrantia. Clump forming herbaceous perennials with white, pale pink or deep pink umbels.

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    Astrantia
  • Rudbeckia. Hardy perennial plant with bright yellow daisy flowers, flowering well into late Autumn.

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    Rudbeckia
  • Persicaria. These are wonderful ground cover plants with deep green foliage and pink, white or red flowers.
  • Cornus Alba. Grown mainly for their deep red stems, Cornus afford all year round interest and look good in informal groups with other winter shrubs such as Hamamelis.

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    Cornus Alba
  • Liquid Amber. A deciduous tree that grows happily in moist but well drained soil, clay, sand or loam. They give all year round interest particularly in autumn when the foliage is deep red.
  • Hydrangea paniculata. A deciduous shrub with bushy, lush green growth, flowers from late summer into autumn. Prefers moist, well drained soil.
  • Cephalanthus occidentalis. (Button bush) This fragrant shrub prefers full sun and well drained sandy loam.
  • .

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    Button Bush

 

 

My plant suggestions below are for gardens that are naturally more prone to be dry. They are also ideal for a low maintenance garden if one has little time to water plants. Easy Low Maintenance Garden Ideas In terms of the environment, these plants are ideal in drought conditions when we need to look to conserving water.

 

Plants for Dry Gardens.

  • Bearded Iris. They thrive in full sun, flowering throughout summer. Rhizomes need to be planted near the surface in order to take full advantage of the sun – sun baked rhizomes = more flowers.

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    Iris
  • Sedums. Perfect for dry gardens, sedums require well drained soil with part grit.How to Grow Succulent Plants They need very little attention.

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    Sedum
  • Lavender. This drought tolerant evergreen shrubby plant also thrives in full sun. Beautifully scented flowers appear through summer.

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    Lavender
  • Euphorbia. Their bright, citrus coloured bracts provide colour from springtime through summer. Easy to grow. Always wear gloves when handling these plants, the sap is a skin or eye irritant.

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    Euphorbia
  • Teasels. Make wonderful architectural features in gardens. Goldfinches and other garden birds feed off the seed heads, making them a favourite for wildlife gardens.

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    Teasels
  • Passion flowers. Beautiful climbing vines with lovely showy flowers. Best suited to sunny, sheltered sites in the warmer regions of the UK.

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    Passion Flower

 

In Conclusion

Rain water gardens are relatively simple to construct, they will add a new interesting feature to your garden and also attract wildlife.

Once established they are very low maintenance.

In 2017 the RHS produced a report that outlines the challenges gardeners will face

Milder winters

Drought

Extreme weather

Pests

For further information read

Gardening in a Changing Climate

If you have enjoyed reading this post and have found it useful, then please share with your friends. Also, feel free to share your views or ask questions in the comments box below.

Thank you

Louise

 

 

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