A new comprehensive guide provides invaluable support for landscapers, designers and gardeners looking to use water more efficiently and effectively in their projects, writes Gillian Taylor
The collaboration between renowned garden designer Tom Massey and the RHS scientific team has produced RHS Waterwise Garden – Sustain Your Garden Through Drought and Flood, packed with practical advice and inspiring designs.
Climate change is presenting our plants and environment with many challenges, with periods of excessive heat and drought often followed by heavy rainfall.
The RHS is actively researching and promoting ways to improve garden water management and the term Waterwise refers to the need for us to value water more highly. The premise , reinforced throughout , is that we should not be using any clean mains water to irrigate our gardens. Rainwater should be our number one resource, followed by grey water as required.
• Rainwater collection, storage and utilisation
• Reduction of runoff
• Improvement of soil water retention
• Assessment of different plant types
All these are well documented with technical information combined with Tom’s innovative ideas. A detailed plant directory provides an extensive choice of plants for all situations.
Tom explains clearly how small changes to design and rethinking our dependence on mains water will hugely increase the sustainability of our gardens. Interviews with RHS Experts and experienced professionals add useful insights into the practicalities of becoming Waterwise.
Case studies presented show how creative thinking can transform our water efficiency. Examples described include:
• Permeable paths and driveways
• Rainwater harvesting systems
• Green roofs on sheds and bicycle stores
• Detaching downpipes from the sewage system
• Using planted areas as rain gardens
The Sheffield City Council Grey to Green Project is examined. It transformed an urban concrete cityscape into a biodiverse green corridor. Achieved through the use of sustainable drainage systems ( SuDS) which capture, reduce the flow rate of, and encourage infiltration of rainwater, the design is being replicated in other large cities.
The recent SGLD symposium Extreme! Designing Sustainably for a Changing Climate looked in detail at the techniques used in the city via a combination of onsite visits and lectures.
Landscapers, designers and gardeners have a key role in future-proofing water usage.
The combination of Tom’s creativity and the RHS science team’s knowledge make this an indispensable handbook for us all.
RHS Waterwise Garden – Sustain Your Garden Through Drought and Flood
Dorling Kindersley ISBN 978-0-2417-4022-4 £22
Photo credits :
Dorling Kindersley Mike Powell