CATCH THE STORM WATERS –  AND SAVE THE SUMMER GARDEN

By Clodagh and Dick Handscombe*

The rainfalls this year have now reached the levels of those of 1998 or earlier in many parts of  Mediterranean Spain. Sufficient water to soak down into well prepared soil so that tap roots can speed their downwards growth extracting nutrients, and once there they will be able to extract moisture from lower water table levels than previously once soils dry out over the coming weeks and months. In many cases the rainfall on gardens has been sufficient for a year or more with out the need to purchase potable or agricultural water. Whether the return to heavy rainfalls is due to the 18 year cycle of sun spots or global warning is any ones guess. What is more important is to ensure that your house and garden are constructed to take full benefit of the free water gluts and avoid damage to the garden?

We suggest the following practical actions to prepare for next years storms during the dry sunny winter months ahead.

1. As a minimum fit roof guttering and down pipes to a number of barrels but preferably a large water tank (deposito in Spanish). Several decades ago most new houses were built with a deposito under the house or terrace to provide both domestic as well as irrigation water. The advent of piped chlorinated water for everyone resulted in developers/builders economising by leaving out the deposito even in houses with large cavernous under builds.
2. Route solid paths to a collection tank at the lowest point of the garden from where water can be pumped to irrigate the garden.
3. Build low dry stone walls on the upper side of flower beds and rockeries so that excess water is held back to gently seep into the soil once the rain has stopped rather than gorge out channels across the beds or rockery taking favourite plants, soil and even rocks with it.
4. Lay down stone chipping rather than solid terraces and paths in the lower parts of the garden so that water can soak into the soil rather than be channelled over the boundary onto neighbouring properties.
5. Build a sturdy dry stone walled raised bed in front of the lowest boundary to keep water on your property.
6. Most importantly improve your soils before planting to ensure that it can absorb and retain water as well as allowing excess to drain away.
7. Enlarge and add additional holes to the base of flower pots in which plants that don’t like to be waterlogged are to be planted. Once saturated lying pots on their side to drain off excess water is too late especially for young plants whose immature roots can soon rot off.
8. Resist concreting over the whole garden except for the pool. You may not flood but the neighbour may!
9. Don’t infill natural waterways/barrancas that for millions of years have channelled water from mountainsides to dried river beds during storms.

Even with strong foundations walls and terraces built over the top collapse. In a neighbours case the day they moved in!
10. If you are buying a new house or building plot check that they have not been liable to flooding in the past or are liable to be in the future as the result of new buildings, urbanisations, roads, other construction projects, the clearing of trees or the abandonment of agricultural land.

Such actions will not only help your garden survive inundations and reduce water bills but also be environmentally responsible. Environmentally friendly in reducing the need for water purification plants and the long distant water distribution pipes that are already blighting once rural views from select properties.

* Clodagh and Dick have gardened through over 20 years of dry spells and storms. Their experience is shared in their three latest books: Your Garden in Spain; Growing Healthy Fruit in Spain and Growing Healthy Vegetables in Spain. They are invaluable to new and experienced gardeners and make excellent Christmas or moving in presents.

Clodagh and Dick will be giving talks at the 0ver Fifties Show in Estepona on the 15/16 November and will be available to sign books on the Santana Books stand.

© Clodagh and Dick Handscombe November 2007.