 Grazalema has the odd reputation for being "The wettest place in Spain"...Historically the average yearly rainfall is around 2000mm (or 2000 litres per square metre) and this is caused by the Atlantic westerly winds that heat up over the low ground suddenly being forced up to the higher ground of the Sierra de Grazalema, the first mountain range in the path of these winds. The warm air cools quickly, condenses and falls as rain... For the last few years though, rainfall has been a lot less than normal and one look at the lake levels in the area shows us that we all need to be careful with water, one of our most precious commodities.
Even with the abundance of rainfall during the winter our summers are usually dry and hot with temperatures often exceeding 40 degrees celsius. This is the time when plants need the most water and the goal of water wise gardening is to conserve water by using it as efficiently as possible. But, gardening in a dry climate doesn't mean you have to go to the extreme of planting a cactus garden that never needs watering!
The ideas behind water wise gardening are quite simple, easy to incorporate and include.
- Choosing plants which need less than average water, especially endemics.
- Grouping plants together according to their water needs.
- Preparation of the soil before planting to encourage a large, more efficient root system.
- Conserving water by using drip irrigation.
- Mulching
Every spring and early summer endemic species turn our roadsides, fields and meadows into stunning arrays of colours and scents. Many of the plants that grow wild here have been cultivated and sold in garden centres in the north of Europe for many years and people often pay high prices for a specimen in a pot. So why not use these plants here in our gardens? It is interesting to note that a trip to a local garden centre anywhere in Western Andalucia can very often be dissapointing. (To me at least)... Instead of local endemic plants we see row upon row of hybrid tea roses, pansies and pelargoniums... Don't get me wrong I'm not "anti pelargonium" but with the huge array of simply stunning plant life that has evolved in this area supplying us with so many colours and textures it shows a huge lack of imagination in what is acheivable. In my opinion using plants that are not suited to our long hot summers is quite frankly a total waste of water.
If you have a house with a garden in the countryside the chances are that you are surrounded by wild plants that with a little bit of thought and care will not only make a beautiful and practical garden but will also attract birds, butterflies and other beneficial insects.
Flowering plants such as delphinium, throatwort, snapdragons, field poppies, mullein, star of Bethlehem, asphodel, iris, gladioli, chicory, pinks, borage, nigella and acanthus.
Smaller flowering shrubs such as rosemary, thyme, lavender, daphne, tree mallow, cytisus, broom, lygos, bupleurum, cistus, shrubby jazmine, viburnum and hawthorn.
Trees for the backbone of a garden such as strawberry trees, sweet bay, nettle tree, olive, carob, ash, green oak, deciduous oak, walnut, almond, poplars and pistacio
Climbers like clematis, aristolochia, dog rose, honeysuckle and mallow leaved bindweed.
There are also quite a few fruits suited to the hot summers such as Apricot, Fig, Cherry, Grape, Peach and Pomegranate. These plants require very little additional watering once they are established.
 Other fruits and vegetables will require regular watering through the summer. Some vegetables can get by with less water if they are planted in the early spring or autumn when there is more chance of natural rainfall. Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, onions, peas and lettuce will grow well in the cooler weather. They can be planted as early as March. Peppers, aubergine and tomatoes need a bit more water and can take a bit more heats but this is also where the important mulching techniques should be used. Mulching is a very effective way to conserve water especially in vegetable gardens and for fruiting trees. We very often use large pieces of cardboard that we get from the recycling centre in Ronda. We lay it in between the rows of vegetables or around the bases of our trees. Then we cover this with grass that is cut with a lawnmower through the spring. You can water a tree a lot less with this method as the humidity is trapped under the card and clippings stopping it from evaporating. Weeds are also prevented, or at least, reduced by the use of mulches.  Other sources for a mulch could be bark chippings or manure from a local farmer.
Plant grouping according to water needs is also important as it makes it possible to use the minimum amount of water. It is a waste if you have a plant that needs a lot of water alongside plants that don’t need much water. Drip irrigation systems are efficient as the water can be delivered directly into the soil at the base of the plant and evaporation is reduced. If you do have sprinklers then they should only be used early in the morning or late in the evening when the air is cooler and there is less wind to disperse the water. Perhaps the most obvious tip would be to turn off any automatic irrigation if it has recently been raining.... Plants use water much more efficiently if they have a deep and well developed root system. They can go for longer without needing to be watered because their roots cover a larger deeper area of soil. Heavy clay soils can be a problem and prevent roots from developing properly. This is where soil preparation is very important... The ideal soil would contain roughly equal amounts of sand, silt, clay and organic matter, with good aeration and drainage. This allows the soil to soak up natural rainfall and allows roots to grow deep and wide so they can use all of the available moisture and nutrients present. If the soil is well prepared and new plants postioned the next step to encourage healthy roots is to place on the mulch and water deeply once or twice a week instead of every day. In general, for most plants, the soil surface should always be dry before it is watered again. Water wise gardening will lower your water bill and help the environment as well as increase the health, growth and yields of flowers, fruits and vegetables. If you need help or advice about mantaining, managing or creating a water wise garden then get in touch with Iberian Endemics. Landscape Services
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