saving water in italian gardens

saving water naturally!

Summer is always just a winter away, so, if you have just planted new plants in the vegetable garden or, maybe if you have just invested time in making some stunning new vibrant flower borders then you will need to retain all the soil moisture that you can in your Italian - style garden. This will assist healthy growth and ensure that you get the very best results from the garden- but how exactly do we do that?

In a natural situation leaves fall from the trees, forming a layer of organic matter, all totally naturally, over the roots at the base of the tree. However, Like everything else in nature, this doesn't just happen by chance... or without a precise motive!

Organic material is the soil's sustinance and a generous covering of organic matter is crucial for soil bacteria/organisms, so essential for water retention and the development of humus. Humus is a gel-like substance that is created when organic matter is slowly broken down by the worms, organisms and numerous bacteria present in most healthy soils. When one thinks of worms and bugs in our gardens it's all too easy to be disgusted by their presence. However, as Aristotle was so famously quoted as saying, "Earthworms are the intestines of the soil"

Aristotle could not have cast a more correct statement, given that all these creatures are absolutely essential ifor the digestion of organic material and for the maintainence healthy soil. These organisms maintain the earth healthy, friable and also water-retentive. It should therefore be clear that in order to maintain a healthy, water-retentive soil we must aim to keep these creatures very happy and thats really very simple

By adding manure, rotted-down leaves or straw as a soil covering (mulch) we can maintain the essential organisms, prevent water from evaporating, create humus and provide a very pleasing visual effect that looks very neat and ordered- all year round

By far the best mulch can be obtained from rotted leaves but they do require at least 6 months in a pile or compost heap prior to being used as many leaves contain harmful leaf tannins that may harm the smaller plants. Straw also makes a fine mulch and will prevent slugs and snails from reaching the plant as they dislike travelling over such dry surfaces.

A covering of mulch will also eliminate weed growth and reduce the amount of tedious hours spent weeding to a minimum thus allowing you to enjoy your garden- safe in the knowledge that you have done something that will benefit the environment. Bare soil releases much more Carbon dioxide and by covering the surface you will also reduce CO2 emissions!

For an alternative non-organic mulch that will aid water retention by trapping moisture in the soil try gravel, especially for Mediterranean plants.