INCREASINGLY DRY AND HOT CLIMATE IN SUMMER – LAWNS AND PLANTS NEED PRECISE IRRIGATION
Irrigation technology is being used more and more frequently in private gardens as well as in larger landscaping projects such as parks, residential complexes or office buildings. Due to the increasingly dry and very hot summer months in particular, well-planned and precisely controlled irrigation from the outset is extremely important for the long-term success of plantings.
According to a study on climate change in Austria by the Academy of Sciences*, temperature extremes have changed significantly: cold nights have become rarer and hot days significantly more frequent. This trend will continue and the frequency of heatwaves will also increase.
At the same time, precipitation has decreased by 10-15% over the last 150 years, particularly in south-eastern Austria. An increase in precipitation in winter and a further decrease in summer is to be expected.
In the Alpine region, an increase in sunshine hours of +20% has been recorded in the last 130 years, i.e. more than 300 hours.
“The climate is changing – when planning open spaces in particular, we need to take increasing extreme events such as heatwaves and droughts into account. Sustainable irrigation systems are already making gardens and landscapes fit for climate change and affordable in the long term.
”
According to DI Dr. Stephanie DRLIK, landscape architect, managing director of the Austrian Society for Landscape Planning and Landscape Architecture (www.oegla.at) and expert in the field of sustainable development and climate change adaptation.
All of this means that plantings such as lawns, trees and shrubs need to be supplied with additional water. In addition to the quality of the soil, an optimally controlled water supply is particularly important for lush greenery. There must be no drying out or oversupply of moisture.
When planning new projects, all factors for a high-quality irrigation system are taken into account from the outset. The water supply, water pressure and appropriately dimensioned pipelines are particularly important. This saves costs and effort, as all earthworks can be completed at once.
But retrofitting green spaces of any size is also possible.
Of course, a modern irrigation system also aims for maximum water efficiency. There is a particular trend towards using beautifully designed ponds as water reservoirs. This allows water to be stored for longer periods and saves drinking water.
[note]* Austrian Assessment Report on Climate Change, Academy of Sciences, 2014
(http://www.austriaca.at/APCC_AAR2014.pdf)[/note]