Hello all!
- Subject: Hello all!
- From: "Francisco J. de la Mota" f*@xerijardin.com
- Date: Thu, 13 Feb 2003 20:41:14 +0100
Hi everyone. I am new to this Mediterranean garden discussion group. I live
in Madrid, Spain. We have a xeriscaping family business
http://www.xerijardin.com (in Spanish) in which we try to follow, as much as
we can, the principles of water, soil and native vegetation conservation,
but we are not closed to the use of exotics.
My yard is located in the mountains North from Madrid (40º 50' N, 3º 50' W).
It has an extension of about 0.5 acres on a slightly South facing slope. The
caracteristics of the area are as follows:
-Soil: Usually not deeper than 1 meter (ca. 3 feet). The originating rocks
are gneis and granite, therefore the ph is quite acid, around 5.5. The
organic matter in the A horizon is of about 3 %. The drainage is always very
good, faster in granite soils than in gneis soils.
-Topography: Old Hercinian mountains with summits a little over 2,000 meters
(6,562 feet) and the valleys at about 800 meters (2,625 feet).
-Temperature: the mean annual temperature is of about 10 ºC (50 ºF). The
lows in the winter usually get close to -10 ºC (14 ºF), but there can go
down to -15 ºC (5 ºF) every 25 years or so. The frost-free period runs from
mid May until late september or early october. In the summer, the highs are
usually of 28 ºC (82 ºF), with some days slightly over 30 ºC (86 ºF) and a
good amount of days at about 25 ºC (77 ºF).
-Wind: It has a storng dessicating effect all year round, and we get gusts
of 100 km/h (62 mph) almost every year. The tree line in these mountains is
due more to the wind effect than to the low temperatures themselves. There
is a strong foehn effect.
-Rainfall: Very variable from one year to another. Sometimes of 1100 mm (43
inches) per year, others 500 mm (20 inches). The most common, though, is of
800 mm (31 inches), fairly well distributed between October and May,
November the rainiest, and a drought period from June to September, with
occasional severe thunderstorms. There are usually ten days of snowfall,
sometimes very heavy wet snow, causing a lot of damage in evergreens. The
snow can remain on the ground for five to fifteen days, weather depending.
-Plants: The climax vegetation is Quercus pyrenaica forest, with Crataegus
monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Acer monspessulanum, Cytisus scoparius, Lavandula
stoechas, Cistus ladanifer and C. laurifolius, Rubus sp., Stipa gigantea and
reforestations of Pinus sylvestris on the higher areas. Figs (Ficus carica),
olives (Olea europaea) and bay laurel (Laurus nobilis) survive well in a
sheltered position, but can die-back to the ground in very cold winters.
Acacia dealbata survives for a period of 15 years or so, when it gets killed
in a severe winter. The only palm successfully grows here is Trachycarpus
fortunei. I've tryed Sabal mexicana with no luck. Evergreens like Pinus
pinea, Magnolia grandiflora and cupressus sempervirens perform well, but
have problems with heavy snow loads.
This yard was started 26 years ago, not following any previous design or
ideas. Some of the plants like the 4 Pinus pinea and 5 the Olive trees were
planted when they were about 21 years old or more. Other trees/shrubs/plants
include: Arbutus unedo, several lilacs, walnut, loquat (Eriobotya japonica),
Magnolia grandiflora, Ficus carica, Ginkgo biloba, Cistus (several species),
Viburnum tinus... All the yard was covered with lawn. The garden is now
under a important process of change: more than 50 % of the lawn areas have
been eliminated and are being converted into less water demanding plantings
of mostly native perennials and shurbs. This will not only be more
environmentally friendly, but also there will be more year-round interest in
the yard.
As an example, in area of about 40 m2 (430.56 sq. ft) in which there were
only three olive trees and lawn, now it is being planted a mixture of
Lavandula stoechas, Achillea coarctata, Iberis sempervirens, Euphorbia
characias, Stipa gigantea, Aurinia saxatile, Phlomis fruticosa, Acanthus
mollis, Rosmarinus officinalis 'Prostrata' and Antirrhinum hispanicum. For
late summer flowering I included Buddleja davidii 'Empire Blue', which is
not invasive here. I've also added bulbs like Hyacinthoides hispanica,
Narcissus jonquilla and Allium moly. I intended a combination of blues,
whites and yellows and contrasts in leaves like between the deep green of
the Acanthus and the grayish of Phlomis. I will be reducing the watering
frecuency in the next two summers. After that the plants will be on their
own.
Some comments about Pampa Grass: I've had it in the yard (and still have it)
for more than 20 years. I guess I am a lucky one because I've never found
any seedlings, being division the only way for me to get new plants. I've
heard it is very invasive in places like South Africa, but it doesn't seem
to be so here in central Spain (maybe because of the winter?).
Have a good day!
Fran
