Global Warming: As Climate Change Turns Up the Heat, How Can Our Gardens Survive?Climate change promises hotter temperatures, heavier downpours and more intense hurricanes -- and changes in our gardens.
Scientists predict that in the near future the southeastern United States will be wetter, but Florida may be drier. That could mean more wildfires and more stress on the water supply even though water restrictions are already in place.
We can help our gardens adapt by modifiying the design as well as changing our practices.
We've already seen our warm weather move north. In 2006, the Arbor Day Foundation revisited the U.S. Department of Agriculture's plant hardiness zones, which indicate the lowest temperatures in a given area. While South Florida remains in Zone 10 a and 10 b (lows are 30 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit), Zone 10 has made a substantial northward move (see map), reaching Brevard County from Palm Beach County on the east coast, and Hillsborough/Pinellas counties from Charlotte on the west coast.
With these weather extremes, we must adapt and change our gardens. But how? We can plant more natives, increase our tree canopy for both carbon dioxide absorption and the protection of plants that need extra humidity and moisture. We also may become more selective with exotic plants.
In other words, plan before we plant.
The right plant selection is crucial. Our native plants, which evolved to survive and thrive here, should be at the top of your planting list. Plants of the wider Caribbean are good candidates as well.
Caribbean palms can thrive here -- wonderful Cuban palms in the genus Copernicia, such as the Bailey palm, Copernicia baileyana, and the petticoat palm, Copernicia macroglossa, and Copernicia fallaensis, which is larger than Bailey.
Many palms are drought-tolerant once they become established. But rain-forest palms need a well-protected area with high humidity. You can create such areas with large trees, windbreaks and other foliage, but you'll have to work at it.
Rein in the rain forest. Or, rather, relegate rain-forest plants to the microclimate beneath a big shade tree where temperatures are more even and humidity is higher. They'll love residing together.
With our present restrictions of twice weekly sprinkling, it's difficult to justify using water-thirsty plants such as impatiens for winter color. Instead, plant native wildflowers. Indian blanket, coreopsis (our state wildflower), verbena and goldenrod are good examples.
Put the right plant in the right place. Don't plant saplings that will grow into large trees beneath power lines.
Group plants with similar water needs. Water-thirsty plants should be near the house or in containers; those with moderate needs can be placed where your irrigation system can hit them twice a week (or better, where a micro-irrigation system can be used); native trees and shrubs that seldom have to be watered except in an extended drought can hold down the perimeter.
Check the South Florida Water Management District website (
www.sfwmd.gov), linking to Water Conservation for lists of "water-wise" trees, shrubs and groundcovers as well as hints on how to be "yardsmart."
Tropical fruit trees are good candidates for climate-change gardening. Mangoes don't need much watering in the dry season, so take them off the water grid, says Richard Campbell, senior curator of tropical fruit at Fairchild. Citrus should be watered well every seven to 10 days when there is little rainfall. Mature carambolas and lychees need watering twice a week if no rain occurs. Key limes are drought-tolerant.
Recreate a little bit of Florida in your yard. Creating habitats is more important than ever, as plants are not the only things under stress. Leave a standing dead palm or pine as home for woodpeckers, owls and even parrots. Find a place for a pond, even a small one. Plant a butterfly garden, and include nectar-filled flowers (the native shrub Hamelia patens is a perfect example of a flowering shrub that attracts butterflies and hummingbirds) as well as some larval plants for the caterpillars. A butterfly garden, by the way, will provide nectar for beneficial insects, such as tiny wasps that parasitize unwanted insects such as ficus whitefly.
Hammocks are our tropical evergreen forests. When fire is excluded from pine rocklands, hammock trees will naturally move in and create more humid conditions. They bring with them a suite of plants, including gumbo limbo, live oak, satinleaf, pigeon plum and other trees, as well as wild coffees, ferns, bromeliads and orchids. Matheson Hammock Park in Coral Gables and Secret Woods in Broward County are good places to experience these remnants and get ideas for how to plant them.
Joyce and Don Gann, who are retired from owning a native plant nursery and tomato farming, had a 2 1/2 -acre parcel of nursery adjacent to their hammock in Goulds that they restored to hammock beginning in 1994, two years after Hurricane Andrew. They planted trees that were rejects from the nursery, without a particular plan in mind. After the trees, shrubs followed. Today, plants have established themselves so well they are reproducing and there's not a sign that this once was a bean field.
The habitat most critically needed is pine rockland, which includes South Florida pines, palmettos, Bahama cassia, silver palms, white indigo berry and many more examples. The Center for Tropical Plant Conservation at Fairchild has launched a "Connect to Protect" project in order to create corridors and "stepping stones" among isolated pine rockland remnants. You can create a small connection in a corner of your yard.
To get started with a pineland garden, go to
www.fairchildgarden.org and click the Center for Tropical Plant Conservation link. Then link to Connect to Protect, and you'll even find nurseries that carry pineland plants.
If you live on a lakefront, try using native wetland plants to frame your view of the water. Paurotis or Everglades palms need a nearby water source, and they grow tall enough to serve as the upper canopy. Wax myrtle, pond apples, buttonbush, leather ferns, cypress trees, pop ash and beach lilies can create a beautiful setting and give sustenance to birds and wildlife.
Look for a place to locate a pond. Researchers at Iowa State University have found that they are good carbon sinks, and a backyard pond not only benefits wildlife but reduces carbon dioxide.
Improve your energy efficiency with trees and shrubs. Plant hurricane-resistant trees and shrubs in order to reduce power bills. Trees that shade south-facing concrete-block walls during the afternoon will help reduce heat buildup.
Ceiling fans and compact fluorescent lights can leverage the effort.
Select wind-resistant trees. If hurricanes become more frequent, our gardens must become more wind-resistant.
Supple palms and small palms are hurricane survivors, but they must have complementary canopy trees that provide adequate shade.
Wind-resistant trees include buttonwood, wild tamarind, gumbo-limbo, dahoon holly, ironwood, lignum vitae, sweetbay magnolia, live oak, paradise tree, pigeon plum, pond apple, pond cypress, stoppers and palms from areas that experience hurricanes
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