Plants for Water-wise Garden

The “Green Point” has two plant introduction areas: (a) 12 hectares in which 900 species (12 plants replicated twice) are tested without irrigation, and (b) 3.5 hectares in which 90 species of shrubs and ground cover species are tested for their water needs up to a maximum of 350 mm per year supplementary irrigation (the lawn requires 900mm per year of supplementary irrigation). The area and number of species are regularly increased. Trees and shrubs are planted at a spacing of 5 x 5m, while the ground cover area allocates 10m² per replica. Before planting, the area is cultivated to a depth of 60cm with a sub-soiler. The introduction area is kept weed-free through cultivation and the use of herbicides. The plants were evaluated according to the following criteria:

·         They must perform well (according to landscape needs) for at least 10 months of the year, preferably without the need to prune for renovation

·         They must be pest-free

·They must, once established, prevent weed growth.

This work is being performed in collaboration with Yossi Ben-Dov of the Institutes for Applied Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.

 So far, we have released a list of 221 species that have succeeded according to our criteria. Shrub and groundcover species are recommended for wider testing after being evaluated for a minimum period of 4 years, (beginning after the ground is fully covered by foliage) the time at which they reach their maximum water use. Trees are evaluated for ten years before recommendations are made. It is important to emphasize the significance of long-term testing of the introductions ( 30 years or more). In our introduction area and in a collaborating are at Omer (studies conducted by Meir Forti)some species collapsed after 15-30 years of excellent performance (Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Acacia victoria, Cassia eremophila, Eremophila maculate and Schinus molle.)

The “Green Point” has two plant introduction areas: (a) 12 hectares in which 900 species (12 plants replicated twice) are tested without irrigation, and (b) 3.5 hectares in which 90 species of shrubs and ground cover species are tested for their water nee