OUR GARDEN HERITAGE UNDER THREAT FROM DROUGHT CONDITIONS

National Trust CEO Martin Purslow today said:

“Many of our traditional gardens are at risk from the adverse effects of climate change particularly drought. Some gardens are threatened with the possibility of destruction due to lack of irrigation and inappropriate plant replacement”.

While much has been written about drought-tolerant or ‘water wise’ gardens, this generally recommends replacing high-water requirement plants with water-misers, reducing or removing lawn, increasing the amount of hard landscaping, and limiting the variety of plants. Such changes are likely to have a lasting effect on the more traditional gardens which contribute in such a fundamental way to Victoria’s garden heritage”.

The National Trust advocates that the first step in preserving a traditional garden during drought is to ensure that the limited water available is applied efficiently. This relies on improved watering techniques, including improved water penetration of soil surface, and water-holding capacity. It also means reducing competition for water at the root zone, reducing evaporation and minimising excessive feeding or pruning. Tanks for rainwater and the use of grey water or ground water is supported, as long as EPA guidelines are followed.

The watering of healthy mature trees should be the priority as these are critical to the structure of traditional gardens and may take a lone time to mature. Before removing dead plants it is important to check that they won’t recover. For example, rhododendrons and camellias can be pruned right back and will usually re-sprout successfully. It pays to have a look around your neighbourhood to see what is surviving well. Remember a lot of old gardens were planted in the days before supplementary irrigation was possible.

If it really is necessary to replace a dead plant it should be one that conserves what is significant about the landscape or garden by retaining similar values such as size or overall appearance but which will thrive in the changed growing conditions. Consider plant form, shape, leaf texture and colour, flowers/fruit and compatibility with other plants.

Mr Purslow said, ‘Victoria’s horticultural and social legacy from the past 170 years of European settlement is its collection of many fine historic gardens and landscapes. It is this legacy that is largely responsible for Victoria’s identity as ‘the garden state’ so this needs to be recognised and proper drought management techniques used which make every effort to conserve them for future generations.

The National Trust has developed a document ‘Preserving Our Garden Heritage in Drought Conditions” which may be found here.