Lack of rainfall and the garden.

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by Mike Allen, Jun 13, 2018.

  1. Sian in Belgium

    Sian in Belgium Total Gardener

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    I'm with you both on water recycling. Water is metered here in Belgium, and is very expensive. All new-builds have to have rainwater capture tanks, alongside general drainage (Which reminds me- I need to get the handpump for the rainwater tank fixed). Our old house unusually has one - as it is an old core building. Probably a stipulation on building the extension in the 1970s...

    We also keep our watering cans by the door. All "warming-up" water, veg-washing water, and hand-rinsing water goes into the watering cans, to go on the struggling veg plants. Cleanish washing up water goes into the ornamental planters. But we have to rely on plants coping on their own. Like @shiney, we can have droughts here lasting months. Often little or no rain from late April to June or July. Add to that the fact we have incredibly sandy soil, and are on a south-facing slope....!
     
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      Last edited: Jun 14, 2018
    • shiney

      shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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      There's an interesting balance between trees and large shrubs taking the moisture out of the soil and them sheltering the ground from evaporation caused by sunshine. I'm not sure how this works out but have the feeling of an overall gain for the plants and ground. This is based on the thought that trees and large shrubs get most of their moisture from lower down in the soil and shelter the smaller plants so they can take advantage of more moisture left near the surface.
       
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      • JWK

        JWK Gardener Staff Member

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        That reminded me that Beth Chatto was the Queen of the dry garden, she sadly died earlier this year. Her gardens are not far from shineyland and are well worth a visit to see how it's done in the driest part of the country on challenging soil. Her excellent book is worth reading given her vast experience, think I found my copy in a charity shop:
        Beth Chatto The Dry Garden - The Beth Chatto Gardens

        I've seen her show gardens at Chelsea and copied her ideas in parts of my dry garden.

        I've bought plants from there and they are excellent quality:
        Drought Loving Plants - The Beth Chatto Gardens
         
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        • shiney

          shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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          We went to Beth's garden when she first opened it about 50 years ago :blue thumb: I seem to remember that part of her garden was built on what used to be a gravel pit.
           
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            Last edited: Jun 14, 2018
          • Sheal

            Sheal Total Gardener

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            And I would agree with Armandii. :)I can't think of anything worse than living next door to a garden that is lit up like Blackpool. It wasn't so long ago complaints were made about how much light pollution there is in Britain. It's getting worse, not better!
             
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            • Gail_68

              Gail_68 Guest

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              Hi Sheal it's everyone to their own and here where I live it's over run with tree's so that added light makes the garden feel warmer plus @martin-f gives a lovely warm glow to how is gardens designed.:)
               
            • Sheal

              Sheal Total Gardener

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              My own garden is full of trees Gail but I don't need lights. There doesn't seem to be any consideration about the feelings of neighbours who have to live with it if they don't like it.
               
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              • Gail_68

                Gail_68 Guest

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                Sheal I won't get into a disagreement about it but like I said everyone to their own taste and neighbours know me...when hubby first put spot light up 9yrs ago we was asked if we would drop it slightly we did and I asked them if it was ok and it was.
                I might not venture from my home much but my neighbours know me well enough to mention anything that displeases them.
                 
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                • shiney

                  shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                  Many years ago we had to end up growing a row of Leyllandii to blot out the light from the neighbour's garden. When the neighbour eventually moved out the first thing the new people did was to remove the flood lights. We removed the trees. :blue thumb:
                   
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                  • Gail_68

                    Gail_68 Guest

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                    Shiney our one neighbour is elderly on her own and she's in doors at 4pm in the afternoon and our other neighbour speaks with us when we see her and she talks about the garden's as she grows her own and she's a straight person like myself and she would say something I know that for sure and the back of the garden is covered by conifers :)
                     
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                    • ARMANDII

                      ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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                      Definitely.........NO!!! We can't even see our own starlit skies and so don't even bother to look up because we're adding to the Light Pollution!!:snorky:
                       
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                      • Gail_68

                        Gail_68 Guest

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                        They're only solar :sad:
                         
                      • ARMANDII

                        ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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                        Times a trillion!!!:wallbanging::doh::heehee:
                         
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                        • Gail_68

                          Gail_68 Guest

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                          Please don't start [​IMG]….Christ I don't ask for much in life and I just :love30: my garden :dunno: :phew:
                           
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                          • ARMANDII

                            ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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                            Just sayin' :dunno::heehee::loll::lunapic 130165696578242 5:
                             
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