Water sensitive urban design (WSUD) planting and landscaping

Creating and maintaining plant cover on vegetated WSUD systems is crucial to maintaining their functionality. Correct species selection, planting density, planting preparation and maintenance is critical to the long term performance of these systems. Landscaping also plays an important role in maintaining biodiversity and providing local ecological habitat.

Plants indigenous to the Cumberland Plain and the Blacktown Local Government Area (LGA) will likely have a better survival rate as they are adapted to the local soils and climate, however in some situations non-indigenous species can be planted to meet aesthetic objectives or landscaping outcomes. Plants should be chosen that will minimise irrigation water requirements and maximise survival rates during drought periods.

The landscape design should be prepared by a suitably qualified person, such as a landscape architect with ecological knowledge. Reference should be made to our Water sensitive urban design Standard drawings, in terms of species selection for bioretention systems.

When developing a landscape design, please consider:

soil type (clay, alluvial, sandstone) and soil condition (fertility, permeability) to determine if amelioration is required
identifying regional climatic factors as well as an understanding of the microclimatic factors such as shading, sun and wind exposure, frost exposure
selecting appropriate species of plants, preferably with low water demands and planting them at appropriate densities
weed eradication using environmentally acceptable methods and all weeds must be removed from site.
batters slope to be suitable to allow mowing
recycled leaf mulch is acceptable in garden beds but not on surfaces that can wash into waterways or onto the surface of bioretention systems.
planting densities must be identified on the landscape plan. Planting in random patterns is preferred to improve survival rates, except where this contradicts a landscaping outcome.