Ozbreed Feature: Plants for Buffer Zones

'Buffer Plants' to get you through the wet times and designing landscapes to be more resilient, water efficient and attractive

Are you having trouble selecting plants that will suit both the wet, and dry, periods?  With unpredictable and extreme weather conditions becoming the norm, finding a core group of dependable "buffer plants", capable of surviving both extended wet and dry conditions, is essential. Our friends at Ozbreed have tested and identified the best performers for these circumstances.

As well as being useful for wet periods, buffer plants can enable us to design more effective, water saving and attractive landscapes.

Have you ever considered the amount of rainwater that goes straight into stormwater drains? It's a concern for landscape designers who strive to manage water distribution effectively. Traditional methods might involve draining excess water off-site, but we must remember - water isn't waste, it's a resource.

Instead of flushing rainwater away, we should capture and use it. Stormwater tanks are an initial step, but encouraging rainwater to filter into the subsoil water table preps us for inevitable droughts. By incorporating undulations, micro catchments, and bioswales into our designs, we conserve this resource and create sustainable drought-resilient landscapes with less reliance on irrigation.  

It’s time to view stormwater as an opportunity, not a problem. Incorporating undulations and bioswales creates beautiful, resilient landscapes, optimising water resources and positively impacting our environment. Besides, flat landscapes, devoid of contours and variations, can appear monotonous. Your designs will function better and become more aesthetically pleasing if you leave flat earth ideas in the past.

Flat landscapes present a host of challenges due to poor water management. The lack of topographical variation can lead to rapid water runoff during heavy rains, often causing flooding, erosion, and damage to structures, while creating mosquito breeding grounds. They also prevent the water table refilling.

Undulations - gentle landscape waves - direct and slow water flow, promoting ground seepage. They offer an appealing, natural water management alternative to immediate stormwater drain runoff. Micro catchments are small planted depressions, while bioswales are larger planted depressions filtering water before it drains or seeps into the ground. These features help mitigate climate change effects by lowering runoff into rivers and oceans, thus preventing erosion and water pollution.

By creating undulating landscapes, causing water to pool during rains and dry out during droughts, can be a challenge for designers who want plants to last. 

Ozbreed's Recommended 'Buffer Plants'

The following plants have been tested and proven to be suitable for buffer zones, withstanding periods
of extended wet and dry periods:

Read more about Ozbreed's wet feet trials here: https://www.ozbreed.com.au/summary-plants-in-various-wet-feet-conditions/

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