REDUCE FLOODING – SUSTAINABLE PLANTING DESIGN

Planting up your garden can help alleviate localised flooding caused by surface water run-off –  a great strategy in sustainable planting design. Moisture-loving plants function like sponges – their roots (and the surrounding soil) absorb excess moisture and gradually release it back into the atmosphere via their leaves.

We often design wide areas of planting next to driveways, or include planted ‘cut-outs’ within our terraces, to help capture run-off – with beds dug lower than the neighbouring hardstanding for best effect. This can look fabulous too, softening large expanses of ‘hard’ and helping to green up areas close to the house. And let’s face it, more planting equates to more habitat and fodder for insects and birds, so it gets a big thumbs up from us! Another method to make our gardens more environmentally-friendly.