Creating a 'climate change garden'

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-27/creating-a-climate-change-garden/5119178

That's why Doug Rawlinson from Goulburn, in south-east New South Wales, has created a garden with a difference.

He calls it his "climate change garden".

"I've been in the horticulture industry for many many years and I've looked at the changes and as far as climate change goes, no one can really know what's going to happen," he said.

"Except I can definitely say there's extremes now."

The southern tablelands of New South Wales can be cold and windy, with very hot days in summer.

Mr Rawlinson says he's creating a garden that can cope with more extreme changes.

"There are about 20 raised vegetable beds, an orchard with about 25 different fruit trees, an experimental warm room with avocadoes and pineapples and about 30 different vines, including blueberries and boysenberries," he said.

Shade is an important part of the garden.

"In the centre of all my beds I've got independent, 75 litre planter bags with weeping cherry trees in them and that's going to give me the shade I need in summer because I've found in the past that most of my vegies have been crispy," he said.

"They've had wet root systems, (been) mulched nicely and the fruit on top is just baking in the sun, so shade is a very important part of a new climate garden system.