What is Xeriscaping?
This earth month, plant for the planet.
Being waterwise is more than just virtue signalling.
One of our favourite films of all time is “The Big Short” which follows the story of housing bond collapse of the early 2000’s which very nearly tanked the US economy and left countless families suddenly homeless due to foreclosures. Now, around that time, our very own economists and lawmakers read the writing on the wall and realised that the National Credit Act was a much-needed bit of protective legislation, which sheltered most South Africans from the very same risk of predatory lending and reckless credit and investment. According to this film, this financial bust was predicted by one man, years before it happened:
Economist Michael Burry (watch the movie – it is brilliant!)
So, Burry saw the trends long before anyone else and realised how dangerous they were. A true visionary some would say. A person worth listening to in the future.
Here’s a scary secret..
After the inevitable collapse and his subsequent step away from the investment game…Michael Burry, to this day, invests in only one thing. Water.
Trust Michael, it is time for action.
We KNOW we shouldn’t waste and pollute water. But do we really know why? Do we understand how water scarce our country is, and how devasting it can be if this, the most crucial natural resource, save for the oxygen we breathe, disappears?
April was earth month, and this got us thinking about water use around the home.
What is Xeriscaping and how does it benefit the planet? Xeriscaping sounds futuristic, but it is actually a natural and intuitive way of working with the climate to promote the best possible growth and biodiversity to support your local ecosystem.
Xeriscaping is just the fancy word for drought resistant gardening or planting “waterwise”. BUT – if you do xeriscaping by the book, the goal is to completely eliminate the need for irrigation.
More than a rock garden
The problem with using “Drought resistant” and “Waterwise” to describe this style of landscaping, is that people immediately think about pea-gravel, spikey plants and succulents. (which we also love!)
Xeriscaping can be so much more though. The secret to successful xeriscaping is understanding your local climate zone, but also being keenly aware of your very own garden’s microbiome. From soil type, and sun exposure, to wind patterns, rainfall and temperature variations. Then it is about planning your planting on a very individualised and bespoke level. “Indigenous” is a great place to start, but what is indigenous to George won’t necessarily do well in Oudtshoorn, even though they share a province and are only about 35km’s apart. (As the crow flies.)
Local knowledge is best
To successfully xeriscape, you will have to do research, but also, speak to your neighbours. Find the “oldest” inhabitant in your street and talk to them about what they have had in their garden for ages, what works and what doesn’t.
Take Note: If I had done this, I wouldn’t have wasted thousands of rands on Bushveld plants for my Mpumalanga Highlands garden. It might even be necessary to split your garden into zones and let nature take some parts back (think about the meadow-fication of your lawn) and allowing for natural rainwater runoff.
Ask your local nursary
If you don’t want to talk to your neighbours, at least work on your relationship with your local nursery owner. Plant people are nice people, because plants are great judges of character. If you take the time to engage with them, buy something to show your support and then wait until it is convenient to talk to them (not at the till with 10 people behind you in the que) you will find that the local plant person is a font of knowledge and even if they themselves sell non-indigenous plants, they will absolutely know which plants grow well locally and give you valuable insights into micro climate elements.
Look at your garden differently.
Does xeriscaping include staples like flouncy roses and finicky daffodils? Nope. Does it include wild iris, veld lilies, fynbos, vygies and impressive protea variants? Absolutely.
And obviously you can add rocks, succulents and pea-gravel, if that is what your heart and garden dictates. It is all about getting the right plant in the right place.
You might love your English cottage garden, and we aren’t saying it isn’t pretty, but maybe it is time to heed Michael Burry’s warning and step away from water intensive landscaping. Put down that hosepipe and think about the future.
