ORGANIC BASICS
46
Wind-
resistant
trees and
shrubs
BlackBeantree
(Castanospermum
australe)
Burdekinplum
(Pleiogynium
timoriense)
Certainpalms(Date,
Alexandra,Cabbage)
CeylonOak
(Schleicheraoleosa)
Cypresspines(Callitris
intratropica)
Ficus(somespecies)
Kurrajong
(Brachychiton
diversifolius)
Leichhardttree
(Naucleaorientalis)
Mango
Paperbarks (Melaleuca- some species)
Consult your local
council for more.
Inmanaginga drier,hotterclimatein
yourgarden,whichcanimpactonyou
aswellasyourvegies,youmaybeable
toworkincrementally,withnohuge
expense.Trythefollowingforcooler,
moredrought-tolerantgardens:
Astheydie,replacethirstyNorthern
Hemisphere,cooltemperateandrainforest
plantswithhardierMediterraneanor
SouthAfricanspecies.Also,choosenative
plantsfromnearbyregionsthataredrier
anda fewdegreeshotter.
InnativeandMediterranean
gardens,taperirrigationtoencourage
plantsintosummerdormancy.
Installdripirrigationtowatermore
efficiently.Insteadoffrequentlight
sprinkles,waterplantslessfrequentlybut
forlongertoencouragedeeprootsthat
toleratesurfacesoilsbecominghotordry.
Leafyvegetablespreferrichsoil,but
elsewhereinsoutherngardensit’sbetter
toavoidhighnitrogenfertilisers,even
organicones,inlatespringandsummer:
lush,softgrowthis morepronetowilting.
Mulchgardenbedswithcoarse,
non-absorbentmaterialtocoolroots
andreduceevaporation.
Improvesoilwithorganicmatter,
gypsum(inclay)andzeolite/bentonite
(insand)toincreasenutrientand
water-holdingcapacity.Plantshadetreestothenorth/west
ofoutdoorlivingareasandhomes;use
deciduousspeciestoallowwintersun.
Planttreesandshrubsaswindbreaks
(seeboxatright)formoresheltered
gardenswithlessmoistureloss.
Useseaweedsolutionsregularly,as
wellasbalancedorganicfertiliserswith
addedcalciumtostrengthenplantcell
wallsandimproveheattolerance.
Choosesealedterracottaorglazed
stonewarepotstoreducemoistureloss.
Movepotstodappled,easternorsoutherly
shadeduringthehottestmonths.
Mulchpots,keepingmaterialaway
fromplanttrunks.
Growinself-wateringwickingbeds,
whichwaterplantsfroma reservoiratthe
baseallowinga moreevendistribution.
Spraycitrusandtomatoplantswith
calcinedkaolinclay(CitrusGuardWhite
SprayandOverhaularetwohome
gardenbrands)beforeheatwaves.
Buyvegienet(alsocalledinsectnet
andavailablefrommostgardencentres)
orotherlightfabricthatcanbethrown
overtomatoes,lettuces,seedlings
andothersensitivevegiecrops
duringheatwaves.
Create moveable or adjustable shade
structures, including polypipe tunnels,
for vegies and other crops in extremes.Heat and drought
Above left: Use drip irrigation
to give plants a good soak.
Above: Netting can help
protect crops from heat.PHOTOS: ABOVE LEFT: ISTOCK/ABOVE: ALAMY/RIGHT: ISTOCK.