What Is a Climate Garden — and Why It Matters Now
As we get ready for summer (this last week of chills has really made us ready for swimsuits and fresh lemonade) and the forecast talks about 30°C days - we start thinking about our garden....
Will the plants survive this? Or will this mean hours of watering every evening, less time for drowzy reading on lawn chairs and cool lemonade in the grass as bees and butterflies dance their swirling dances.
It isn't the fault of the plants, the soil, the sun and it certainly isn't your fault. You've purchased plants that are simply not adapted to the situation.
Like trying to fly to Austin, Texas on a paper airplane... It just.. won't work, regardless of your determination and enthusiasm.
Here we have a similar situation- plants in plastic pots will heat up and dry out more quickly, many plants sold in large plant nurseries are boosted with both growth inhibitors and high doses of fertilizers which means that simply being planted in your soil will never be enough, plants that once grew happily in your garden are struggling to survive in June and are dead by mid-July.
The climate is changing, the market is changing.
So let's forget the watering chore and wilting plants: let's focus on getting plants that are adapted to both the spells of drought and frost, let's understand how to plant them and marvel at how different the garden will be this year.
The three-layer rule
How to Layer Your Planting for Maximum Drought Resistance
The secret to a self-sufficient planting lies in the strict organisation of volumes, reproducing the natural logic of wild landscapes and allowing for moisture to be preserved at soil level.
- Tall flowering spikes at the back
- Intermediate species in the middle
- Creeping plants at the front
1. The Back Curtain
Perovskia, Gaura and Verbena bonariensis: the drought-defiant trio
To set the back scene, nothing beats the robustness of shrubs and tall perennials accustomed to dry, arid ground.
Perovskia, with its giant-lavender look, offers a highly resilient, fragrant silver-grey foliage.
Gaura lindheimeri sends its delicate white or pink butterflies dancing at the slightest breath of wind.
Verbena bonariensis proudly raises its graphic stems and delicate purple flowers, drawing a fascinating procession of pollinating insects — all without any human intervention.
SPACING: 70–90 cm
Do not squeeze young plug plants too close together. This is a fatal mistake.
These giants spread to an impressive width after a few seasons. It is essential to measure out a strict spacing of 70–90 cm between each plant. This gap ensures optimal air circulation to prevent the insidious onset of fungal disease, and leaves enough room for each root system to draw nutrients from deep in the soil.
2. The Mid-Border
Achillea, nepeta and common sage: the colors and the fun
Achillea millefolium, an ecological marvel with flat flower heads ideal for capturing morning dew. We offer a wide variety of colors and varieties - yellow, orange, pink, red velvet.
Nepeta blooms a continuous cloud of lavender-blue from late spring onwards.
Common sage, (or her purple or golden-leaved varieties) very economical and easy-going, rounds off this layer with its beautiful colors, delightful fragrance and its natural ability to repel many unwanted pests.
SPACING: 40–50 cm
The recommended spacing here is tighter than for the back layer as we are looking to create a dense row - dense enough to keep the weeds at bay and to create shade for the front and back row plants.
Keep a strict 40–50 cm between the Achillea, Nepeta and sage.
3. The Low-Growing Front Border
Creeping thyme, sedum and hardy geranium: the sun-loving ground covers
Creeping thyme, with its light Mediterranean fragrance, forms an indestructible cushion. We have a selection of Thymes for you to choose from - grey, soft, fuzzy, variegated, fast-growing.
Sedum (the well-known stonecrops) — true little water reservoirs with a large variety of both leaf color and flower color. You can play with the planting of the different varieties to create a patterned effect at the front of your border.
Hardy geranium whose spreading flower-laden habit will elegantly mask the edges of the planted area and remain green throughout the winter months.
SPACING: 30–40 cm
Plant these varieties with a strict maximum interval of 30–40 cm.
They will intertwine within the first months of growth, locking out any unwanted root competition and creating the perfect illusion of a cascade of greenery spilling onto the path or lawn.
Tips for Planting in May
1. Lay a thick 5–7 cm mulch blanket on the day of planting
Cover every square centimetre of loose soil with organic mulch.
A good layer of wood chip, hemp mulch, miscanthus chip or straw, spread generously to a depth of 5–7 cm, acts as an incomparable thermal shield. This blanket blocks evaporation, cools the soil by several degrees at the peak of a heatwave, and silently nourishes the soil microlife.
2. Water generously before and after planting
3. Plant in the evening
Adopting this considered three-layer approach is ultimately a way of making peace with nature and common environmental sense, while considerably reducing the home's energy footprint.
The careful application of a protective covering seals the fate of the young garden and turns it into a model of vibrant biodiversity.
And your watering can can then peacefully gather dust at the back of the shed — all that remains is the simple pleasure of watching the dance of butterflies above these magnificent eco-friendly borders.