Within the parks and gardens of Eastbourne, there have been a number of changes made in the way we maintain the attractive garden areas, while using less water, such as:
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Changing displays from the high maintenance and regular watering of seasonal bedding displays to extensive use of plants that require little water or are drought tolerant, such as palms and some perennials
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Plants are specifically chosen that do not require additional watering, once established
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A number of areas are maintained as natural habitat and are not watered at all
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Where there are planted areas, the soil is mulched with wood chip or pea shingle to conserve moisture
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Adding bulky organic matter and water retentive granules in the soil where we plant seasonal bedding
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Any essential watering to be carried out early morning to avoid immediate loss through evaporation.
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Creating effective ground cover to provide shade and reduce evaporation loss
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All grass is allowed to yellow naturally and then recover in autumn to a lush green - the Carpet Gardens has a grass seed mix called "So Green" that retains it’s green colour longer in drought
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Any hanging baskets have an in built reservoir to hold the water longer and will have moisture retentive granules added
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Effective weed control, so ornamental plants take available moisture and not weeds.
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Carpet Gardens ornamental fountains no longer in use
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The use of more perennials and palms on the promenade rock gardens planned for 2012/13
The changes to the seafront gardens have been the most dramatic with "thirsty" bedding plants, providing a relatively short period of colourful displays, such as wallflowers, pansies, busy lizzies, begonias and marigolds replaced by permanent "architectural plants" and perennials, such as the popular palms that provide all year interest and very little rain water to survive.
Many borders are that were once intensely planted with bedding plants are now the home to exotic palms and colourful perennials. There are such palms as the Canary Island Date, Mexican Blue Hesper and Argentinian Jelly Palms which will flourish in drought conditions and enjoy basking in the long hot days of summer.
These architectural plants are punctuated by colourful perennials including Canna lilies, ginger, red hot pokers and cape daisy, to name a few and since their first season of planting, have not had the need of a hosepipe since.
