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conservation garden

Water Conservation Garden

Come visit Utilities Kingston Conservation Garden at 1211 John Counter Boulevard and discover the secrets of growing a garden that only needs to be watered in the driest of times! Also, learn what else you can do to protect the water resources we all depend on.

The garden has many informative signs that provide tips about water conservation methods, with only a few signs mentioning specific details about plant species. As shown on the map below, the Water Conservation Garden has over 30 garden areas.

Need some inspiration to get started in your own garden? Try incorporating the drought-tolerant, low-maintenance plants outlined in our water-wise garden guide. 

Garden areas

Map of garden areas

 

Each plant in the list below includes the garden area in which it lives. See if you can find your favourite plant when you visit!

 If you do visit, you may want to print this page and bring it with you for your walk through the garden.

Things you should know about smart gardening and landscaping

The following Utilities Kingston web pages contain helpful background information and practical tips for managing your garden in a water-friendly way.

Review nearly 100 conservation tips

  Visit our Conservation Tips page for other ways to save water, energy, & money.

Did you know? Dense and healthy vegetation helps reduce carbon emissions. 

By creating small carbon sinks in your backyard, you can absorb and store greenhouse gases, which would otherwise be present within our atmosphere. Plants also create a cooling effect through shade and evapotranspiration (by which plants uptake water from the soil to use for growth and photosynthesis).

Treated water use outdoors

Reducing the amount of treated water used outdoors during the summer is an important part of water-wise gardening. Learn more by visiting Summer Use Water Restrictions.

Looking to save even more treated water? Try a rain barrel! Find out how to order one!

Please note that the following list of plants is intended for your own backyard garden. Not every plant listed here can currently be found in the Utilities Kingston Conservation Garden.

Water wise plant guide 

Terms used in the plant list

Term Description
Sun Full sun; plants in this category do still benefit from shading of the soil and roots to lower temperature and slow evaporation
Partial sun 3/5 to 4/5 of sunlight hours in direct sun
Bright shade 2/5 of sunlight hours in direct sun
Shade-loving Deep shade to very little sun
Dry soil Soil that is usually dry, meaning at higher elevation or high sand content or both
Well-drained moist soil Soil that holds moisture but also allows oxygen to penetrate the roots is ideal for most plants. It is achieved through a combination of high organic content and earthworms.
Please note this list is under construction and will be updated to reflect the plants currently growing in the garden. Please reach out to conservation@utilitieskingston.com for any further questions.
Sunshine Requirements
Preferred Soil Conditions
Drought Conditions

plants found