Importance of drought tolerant plant selection
If we hope to maintain green life in urban settings and avoid the dire situation that many of the other states have had to endure, where a large number of public and private gardens have become degraded due to water restrictions, we need to radically rethink our plant choices and the way plants are arranged in landscapes.
As a result of both diminishing rainfall levels and water available for irrigation, the plants that are selected need to be extremely hardy.
For inspiration we can look to other countries which have dealt with a drying mediterranean climate for centuries, to older gardens which survive with no irrigation and to nature, with its wide selection of native plants, particularly
in south west WA which are world renowned for their unique beauty and ability to adapwell to local conditions.
Careful planning at the design stage can significantly reduce watering requirements. Any new planting should be of species which are able to survive without water for extended periods if required to do so given the possibility of further and more stringent watering restrictions.
Consideration should also be given to replacing less drought tolerant species now with more hardy varieties to enable them to establish with existing water regimes in time to cope with future dry periods.
If we continue to plant species which will not survive without frequent irrigation long term, then landscapes will struggle and we will suffer significant loss of greenery.
Design evolution
In the past we have had an “estate” or park-like design aesthetic with extensive lawns. Current landscaping trends seem to be for open, sparse and minimalist spaces dominated by hardscaping.
A more climatically appropriate response or mind-set would be to think like desert dwellers and create an ‘oasis’ like environment, incorporating significantly more trees and hardy plants.
