Nurturing a connection with the world around us is the underlying aim of gardening.  With resources such as time, money, and water dwindling, one must ask how the process in creation and stewardship of landscapes is affected.  We need to consider what is truly sustainable and reasonable in the landscapes we develop and maintain.

Stewardship is an important perspective to always keep in mind.  Is the landscape better as a result of our efforts to control nature and to create wonderful illusions?  Nurturing the landscape does not need to conflict with using resources respectfully.

Nature is a harsh mistress.  When you observe a natural plant community such as an Oak Woodland, you see that many of the plants are crowded, fighting for light, full of cavities, or simply stressed. Yet there is a matrix which makes sense – a pulse to the vitality of this woodland.  It is in motion, as nature never stands still.

Our vision of the garden is one in which every plant is at its peak of perfection.  We strive to create the diversity of plantings found in a tropical rain forest and transplant it to our garden.  However, our Mediterranean environment does not provide for the density and diversity of plantings found in a tropical locale. Look at the landscape around you and you will observe that nature finds what grows well and uses it plentifully.  We are seeing many degraded landscapes that we assume are natural but are actually a reflection of human impact over the centuries.  The golden hillsides of California had a very different look before grazing and imported grasses permanently changed the character of what we take to be “natural.”

We also strive for perfection in foliage and mass of flowering.  All this culminates to create an artificial hastening of the garden’s pulse.

This quest for perfection runs counter to the seasonal patterns of the garden as well.  We gather plants from a myriad of habitats together and water them with abandon.  This intensity results in a shortened lifespan, briefer flowering periods, and more disease susceptibility with softer new growth; all in a season to which the plants may not normally be accustomed.

Here are a few things you can do to make the most of your resources, while being a respectful steward of your garden environment, and still create a nurturing garden.

1.  Understand your garden. Have a sense of priority in your landscapes so that your resources are used to create the best affect.

2.  Protect and nurture trees. Time is precious.  It can take a generation to develop a beautiful tree.  Protect what you have but do not be afraid to address poor planting decisions made in the past.

3.  Manage your microclimates. These are sub zones which are constantly evolving.  Within your garden this can be as small as the shade of a particular camellia.  Cherish dappled light.Whenever you shape a plant you should be thinning it as well.

4.  Prioritize the areas of your garden that have the highest natural pulse. The more intense the horticulture, the more resources will be required to maintain it.

5.  Choose plants for the framework of your garden that are compatible with your planting zone. Plants which are marginal for a particular area are often the ones we seek to grow because it is difficult to find them or grow them successfully.  These can add a wonderful dimension to the garden but should be used as accents in a more dependable framework of planting design.

6.  Your garden should not glow in the dark. There is no need for the cornucopia of chemicals that we are encouraged to use in our gardens.  
These chemicals, although effective in the short term, often kill the very life of the soil and have negative impact downstream from your garden.

7.  Use water carefully. Water is fuel for the fire, particularly in relatively dry zones.  It raises the pulse and rate of growth for all plants and encourages them to germinate, spread, and thrive whether or not you planted them.  Use water responsibly because it is the right thing to do.

8.  Pay attention. We live in a technological age and tend to think that if something can be automated we do not need to pay attention.  Automatic irrigation is a wonderful tool, but more often than not it is misused.  Set your irrigation clock for less water than you think necessary and then give an extra cycle as needed.  Attention should also be paid to lighting the garden at night.  A timer that turns lights on before it is dark or lights an unused area is of no use.  The more you look at your garden and truly observe, the more you will use your resources effectively.

9.  Use drip or deep root feeders. This will put the water where it is needed most and limit unwanted intrusion of other plantings.  In drought years I recommend deep watering native oaks once or twice during the long summer.  This keeps the trees from declining without forcing new growth out of season.

10.  Hand water. This has gotten a bad rap but is a very useful tool.  I spot water plants that need a little more than my irrigation clock is providing them.  I wash the foliage down periodically as well, which fosters a healthy garden and removes the constant dust which settles on the leaves during our long dry season.

11.  Mulch Mulch Mulch. We are creating our own forest duff when we mulch.  This retains moisture, fosters soil fertility and vitality, and reduces compaction.  One must be careful not to bury the crown of plants as this can lead to disease problems.  This is one of the simplest things to do to help maintain control of the garden illusion.  Mulching is also one of the quickest ways to dress up your garden.

12.  Reduce planting density. This only works with careful mulching to control growth.  Remember that mulching can also be gravel in the dryer landscape.

13.  Increase plant density. Wait a second – am I contradicting myself?  It is all about intent and control.  Increased planting density in a dry climate encourages the plants to knit.  This reduces the soil temperature and rate of growth, and can reduce maintenance of the area.

14.  Prune in the dormant summer months. Summer pruning reduces a plant’s rate of growth by removing foliage.  This can be accomplished by lacing the plant out as well as reducing the plant’s overall size.  The basic rule of pruning is that winter pruning stimulates growth and summer pruning slows growth.

15.  Reduce the square footage of lawns. Neither lack of imagination nor impressing the neighbors should be the impetus for planting a lawn.  There are many options for alternatives if we think outside the box.

16.  Have a strategy in mind for Horticultural Triage. It is inevitable that the landscapes we create are going to encounter hard times.  The weather is unpredictable and drought or water shortages are going to be with us on a recurring basis.  To grasp this concept you need to ask what is most important in the landscape around you.  Irrigation design should reflect this.  Irrigation valving allows you to water your trees, hedges, and specific microclimates separately.

17.  In times of drought let your garden go partially dormant. Don’t shut off the water. You can use a fraction of the water you normally use.   The plants may look less than their best or the lawn might be yellow, but it will come back with the winter rains.

18.  Learn to be environmentally literate. Be sensitive to plant growth and read the environment around you.  If you see your garden clearly then you will be able guide it as it develops in a way that is ultimately more sustainable and environmentally appropriate.

19.  Borrowed scenery. Maximize the benefit of your surroundings.   Articulate and frame your views.  Be careful when focusing a view not to distract from it with what you do in the foreground.

20.  Practice appropriate horticulture. The closer your garden is to the natural pulse of your area, the fewer resources will be required to maintain the effect.

21. Garden yourself. Gardening involves you directly in the natural process, can supply you with the bounty of your own garden, and will keep you healthy.  If you’re not healthy you can’t tend to your garden.

Jonathan Plant