Climate resilient landscape

A prairie (photographed above) is considered a resilient ecosystem. Prairies are characterized by their diversity of plant and animal life, deep root systems, and their ability to quickly recover from disturbances such as fire and drought. Prairie ecosystems also provide a variety of ecological services such as carbon sequestration, water filtration, and soil preservation. Land that has lost some degree of its natural productivity due to human-caused processes is considered “degraded.” These landscapes are more prone to drought, flooding, fires, disease, and pest infestations.  To make a climate resilient landscape is to endeavor to reconnect degraded land back to a higher level of productivity within the ecosystem.

High Diversity Garden

Landscapes with a high diversity of plants, whose natural processes like nutrient and water cycling proceed unimpeded, can self-correct and bounce back from large disturbances with little to no human intervention. A resilient landscape that can collect precipitation, filter, and store it properly is one that has the capacity to store excess water—in the event of heavy rain—thus preventing flooding. It also has a deep storage of groundwater that enables the ecosystem to survive periods of drought. A landscape with a diversity of species means that pest and disease will not run rampant. These landscapes encourage natural predators to check populations and enough space between susceptible species that they do not all fall prey to pestilence. A resilient landscape can undergo disturbances without it being catastrophic.

The Site Resilient Garden

When it comes to gardening, site resilience is key to ensuring that your plants thrive in any condition.

Whether you're dealing with dry spells, heavy rains, or other challenges, a resilient garden will be able to withstand the elements and continue to produce healthy and vibrant plants. In this post, we'll discuss some of the steps you can take to create a garden that is able to withstand the test of time and the elements.

Step 1: Conduct a Site Assessment

The first step in creating a resilient garden is conducting a thorough site assessment. This will involve evaluating the current conditions of the soil, including its quality, fertility, and water-holding capacity. You'll also want to consider factors such as sunlight exposure and water drainage. By understanding the specific conditions of your site, you'll be able to choose plants that are well-suited to the area and design the garden in a way that optimizes these conditions.

Step 2: Improve the Soil

To improve the quality of the soil and increase its ability to retain water, you'll want to add organic matter such as compost. This will help to improve the soil's structure, fertility, and water-holding capacity. By doing this, you'll create a foundation that can support healthy and resilient plants.

Step 3: Use Drought-Tolerant Plants

In order to create a garden that is able to withstand dry conditions, you'll want to choose plants that are adapted to thrive in low-water environments. These types of plants have deep roots and can extract water from deep in the soil.

Step 4: Use Mulch

Applying mulch to the surface of the soil can help to reduce evaporation, moderate soil temperature, prevent erosion and help to keep weeds at bay, reducing the need for frequent maintenance.. Mulch need not be purchased from garden centers. ‘Green mulch” is the act of covering all open soil with plant material, thereby mitigating unwanted volunteer plants or “weeds” to establish themselves.

Step 5: Create Raised Beds and Contours

To improve drainage and prevent water from pooling in low-lying areas, create raised beds and contours on the site. This will help to channel water away from the roots of plants and promote healthy growth. By doing this, you'll be able to create a garden that can handle heavy rains without becoming waterlogged.

Step 6: Create a Water Harvesting System

To ensure a reliable source of water for your garden, even during dry periods, it is important to collect and store rainwater using a rain barrel or other water harvesting system.

Step 7: Use Companion Planting

Companion planting is the practice of placing plants together in a way that complements each other. Some plants can shade others, some can act as windbreaker, others can fixate nitrogen. Companion planting can be an effective way to create a resilient garden that is able to thrive in any condition.

A Productive Garden

By following these steps, you'll be well on your way to creating a resilient garden that can withstand the test of time and the elements. With the right approach and a little bit of effort, you'll be able to create a beautiful and productive garden that will thrive in any condition.

**all photos copyright ToddHaimanLandscapeDesign20023