Gardens play a crucial role in helping us become more resilient to climate change by mitigating the effects of floods or heat islands, especially in urban areas.

While a private garden may seem insignificant, when we consider all the gardens in a city, they occupy a considerable percentage of the urban area. However, there are various types of gardens, both in terms of design and maintenance. During the planning stage, it is possible to make them more resilient. Below are some aspects to consider:

Site-specific Approach

Creating a resilient garden should be site-specific, meaning it should be suitable for the conditions and reality of the location. Therefore, analysing the surrounding conditions is essential. Factors such as soil type, plants that grow in the area and its vicinity, solar exposure, and prevailing winds should be taken into account. This way, the choice of vegetation to plant in your garden will be more informed, and you will opt for plants that are better adapted to the location. These steps help ensure the success of the garden while avoiding the excessive use of resources such as water, fertilisers, or pesticides.

Vegetation

In addition to using location-adapted vegetation, planting with density and diversity contributes to a more resilient garden. By doing so, you attract biodiversity like pollinating insects, birds, and butterflies and increase the likelihood of resistance to pests and diseases.

Paved Areas

Even if you need to have paved areas, which may be essential from a functional perspective in some gardens, try to use regional or local materials or reuse materials instead of opting for imported materials that travel long distances, making the garden less sustainable.

Consider the carbon footprint associated with the production of materials. Generally, the more processed the material, the higher the carbon footprint. Using natural materials reduces the carbon footprint and typically requires less maintenance.

Natural-based Solutions

These solutions aim to promote biodiversity, respect the natural water cycle in the city, increase carbon storage capacity, improve soil quality, and reduce energy consumption. In addition to the aforementioned strategies, the use of green roofs and green walls also has positive impacts.

Water is an important and pleasant element in any garden, whether it’s a pond or a water mirror. This option stimulates biodiversity and enhances climatic comfort. Water management in the garden is crucial for its sustainability and resilience, including considerations such as water drainage, storage, and reuse.

Continuity

A strategy for increasing the resilience of cities themselves is the continuity of green areas. Creating continuity at various scales, from private gardens and condominiums to hotels and public green spaces within the city, and even establishing green corridors at the municipal and regional levels, is essential. Continuity can start right in our own space.

Style

Generally, a more naturalistic garden style that requires less human intervention will be more resilient, sustainable, and beneficial for biodiversity. Learn to appreciate beautiful plants that occur in nature and may not be traditionally accepted in formal gardens. It is also possible to create the garden of your dreams with them.

Amália Souto de Miranda

Landscape Architect