A climate-resilient garden
Climate change is affecting our gardens, with hotter, drier summers and increasingly frequent periods of heavy rainfall. A climate-resilient garden is designed to cope with these extremes, helping to manage excess water, reduce heat and stay greener during dry periods.
Prevent flooding with a smart drainage plan
Flooded basements, deep puddles in the street and the effects of extreme rainfall can be serious. But with a smart drainage plan, you can avoid a whole host of problems in your garden. In addition, you can also help to prevent sewers from becoming overloaded and roads from flooding. Good drainage starts with a permeable surface. If the soil consists of heavy clay or is very compacted, rainwater will find it difficult to infiltrate the ground. It can help to dig the soil over a little and mix it with compost to improve the structure. In addition, it’s important to make sure that there is plenty of green space in your garden. In a paved garden, rainwater has nowhere to go. For added water infiltration, you can lay a sunken lawn or an underground gravel area.
Retain water for drier weather
In heavy rainfall, the first thing you’ll want is to be rid of all that water. But it’s important to keep as much water in your garden as possible for when you might need it, for example during a heatwave. By not allowing rainwater to drain into the sewer but instead letting it infiltrate the ground, you can help keep the soil moist when drought strikes. A natural pond can be a nice addition too. You can also bring back the old-fashioned rain barrel (or water butt). It’s also a good idea to opt for drought-resistant plants, especially if your garden is on sandy soil. Hibiscus and gladioli do not need a lot of water, nor do yellow dead-nettle and Anthericum.
Prevent heat stress
Tropical temperatures in Europe are no longer unusual. The layout of your garden can lower the temperature by a few degrees, or make it even hotter. A paved garden facing south with no trees will be much like an oven, and without shade, the bricks and paving will heat up quickly. At night, the stones will continue to emit heat, resulting in sleepless nights. As such, it’s a good idea not to pave any more than one third of your garden. Make sure that there is plenty of shade from trees and shrubs. A climbing plant along the house will keep the walls cool, and a green roof will keep the heat out.
Climate-resilient paving in the garden
To prevent flooding and heat stress, it’s important never to pave more than one third of your garden. Clay pavers are the most climate-resilient option. Their convenient shape means that they have plenty of joints through which water can drain away. Moulded pavers from Vandersanden also come with spacers – a small clay protrusion at the edge that ensures there is always a 3 mm gap between each paver. To prevent weeds from growing between the pavers, you can use water-permeable mortar. Paving must always be laid with a slight slope to ensure that rainwater can run off. Ensure that water cannot run into your house, but instead angle the pavers towards the lawn, a border, or pond. You can also install drainage gutters and drainage pits.
Everything you need to know about garden paving
Contact a garden expert
Customer Service
Advice on bricks, brick slips and pavers.
+44 (0)1954 268 075 [email protected] Ask your question