Don't fight the climate. Working with nature yields better results.
One of the most unforgiving climates any gardener can face is the unnerving scorch of the desert, a problem habitually encountered in Dubai. However this intense climate does not inevitably mean that gardens have to be environmentally damaging.
Nowadays, it is possible for a suburban green space to be opulently verdant while remaining eco-friendly, even in surroundings where the temperature may soar to 120 degrees. There are many strategies that an avid gardener can adopt to maintain a system of gardening that is environmentally advantageous while taking into account the water needs, pest control and general health of the shrubs and plants.
One such strategy is to employ beneficial landscaping, where native plants and groundcover indigenous to the area are used. These will thrive with less care than exotic plants because they are accustomed to the climate and soil conditions. It might be hard to imagine how any plant can blossom but in fact, some species can easily tolerate blazing desert heat.
Many local plants and trees can offer luscious blooms and vibrant colours that can create an overall luxuriant effect. These include the pretty yellow/maroon desert hyacinth (Cistanche tubulosa), the red thumb (Cynomorium coccineu) and native grasses such as Panicum turgidum and Pennisetum divisum.
The Haloxylon salicornicum which is present throughout most of the coastal (and also the inland) sandy plains can transform any garden into a feast of translucent whites, pinks and purples during its December bloom.
Indigenous plants already boast an advantage to counteract the popularity of their imported rivals in that they possess an excellent natural defence against the pests and weather that will be prevalent in their native area.
Encompassing only two per cent of all plant species worldwide, halophyte vegetation, which is adapted to cope with high levels of salt in the soil, is a perfect example. This rare vegetation includes Zygophyllum mandavillei, native to Abu Dhabi. Imported plants, though eye-catching, if used unchecked could drastically reduce plant diversity and even lead to extinction of local species.
Water conservation
When it comes to watering the outdoor area, less is more. Drip irrigation is one of the best ways to conserve water in this desert environment. Drip lines use much less water than a sprinkler, while mulch will hold moisture in the soil for longer and so require less frequent watering.
You can save even more water by grouping plant groups with the same watering needs. Of course, to cut out the need for watering at all, plants with drought resistant features can be planted. Most plants which are native to the Emirates are xerophytes or salt-tolerant, such as Cornulaca arabica (saltbush).
Undoubtedly, the gardening enthusiast's most likely preoccupation is pest-control and most urban and suburban residents respond by applying pesticides. Although homeowners may feel the use of pesticides in their own yard and garden is only of minor significance, collectively homeowners spend more than $11 billion per year on pesticides. Pesticide use on home lawns and gardens, on a per-acre basis, actually exceeds the use of pesticides in agricultural crops.
Ironic, when it is considered that almost 99 per cent of insects in a garden are beneficial, but trying to kill that small one per cent of harmful bugs may result in severe consequences for organisms that have favourable side effects for your garden, including birds and butterflies.
Gardeners who wish to be eco-smart may want to consider replacing the use of chemicals in their gardens with biologically based alternatives. For example if aphids are destroying the plant life, allow the garden to acquire some ladybugs, which can eat up to 5,000 aphids in one lifetime.
In general, herbs are a superb choice for any garden as they are undemanding on both the gardener and the environment. They tend to require fewer applications of fertilisers and pesticides and indeed herbs with grey foliage such as garden sage tend to be drought tolerant. These small herbs can be planted in recycled yogurt containers, another eco-friendly measure.
Composting
Growing plants in the desert can also be challenging because of the lack of organic matter in the soil. Composting is the best way to give plants an extra boost rather than relying on artificial chemical fertilisers, which can be detrimental to the soil's delicate pH balance. Composting is also an economically viable option as it is estimated that an average household throws away 1,200 pounds of organic materials that could instead be composted.
The extremes of the Gulf climate do present drawbacks, but there are obvious advantages such as a long growing season and a relatively short winter. Another plus for desert gardens is that beneficial birds and insects are naturally drawn to this diverse environment.
The sheer uniqueness of plants and animals that can inhabit the desert is second only to one other extreme climate, that of a tropical rainforest.
— With inputs from Malay Shah at Belhasa Projects and Sunil Sawlani at Royal Gardenscape.
