[ad_1]
They are called “stone deserts” or “rocky slopes”, they are called “gardens of horror”. And yet, gravel gardens are popular across the country – laborious weeding is no longer necessary in supposedly easy-care areas, there is peace and order, hence the hope of Mr. and Mrs. Swiss.
But now this stone-turned comfort threatens to end at their own doorstep: politicians have discovered stone deserts as a new playground. The fight against rock gardens is advertised all over Switzerland. Whether in Grenchen (SO), St. Gallen or Steffisburg (BE): in more and more municipalities, bans are being drafted, planned or at least on the political agenda.
In Arbon (TG), for example, a ban on rock gardens will also be introduced in new single-family homes. “At the moment, we could only enforce this in the case of design drawings,” laments Councilor Didi Feuerle. The canton of Solothurn has been particularly distinguished.
Several municipalities are planning to ban rock gardens during the next local planning review. And the cantonal parliament has just decided to take action against the scree slopes in the future: the government must now sensitize owners “by all means available” so that as few new rock gardens as possible are created.
The downside: too hot, too little biodiversity
Langendorf (SO) is one of the first communities in Switzerland to have decided to ban them. At the end of August, the community assembly decided that in the future “rock gardens (gravel orchards that have no ecological benefit”) will no longer be allowed. Since the decision, Mayor Hans-Peter Berger has received inquiries from all over Switzerland.
Two points led to the ban, explains Berger, whose community had already been intensively concerned with biodiversity in the settlement area: on the one hand, gardens get very hot in summer, but this is undesirable in times of dense buildings and warming global. On the other hand, the biodiversity in the quasi-sealed gardens is low.
In fact, rock gardens can reach 60 or 70 degrees in the summer. The number of animal species that live there is low, also because gravel gardens, which are prohibited by municipalities, are covered with fleece, which is supposed to slow down weed growth. However, it often flares up after a few years.
“This is an interference with the freedom of property”
Markus Meier is also aware of the downsides of gravel gardens. However, the director of the homeowners’ association dislikes the regulations that are now threatening in many places. Meier sees this not only as a sign of ever-increasing regulations, but also as interference with freedom of property.
Their motto: “Educational work instead of prohibitions, which must then be carefully monitored.” After all, most gardeners have long discouraged rock gardens. Raimund Rodewald, managing director of the Swiss Foundation for Landscape Protection, thinks it is “a bit crazy that gravel gardens have to be regulated.” However, he doesn’t see any other solution at the moment – gardeners would continue to create gravel gardens at the customer’s request.
Even today, however, municipalities have the opportunity to take other actions against gravel gardens: Urtenen-Schönbühl (BE) is considered exemplary. There it is not only necessary to green flat roofs. Unlike other municipalities, gravel gardens are not included in the green space figure, as it regulates the proportion of green on the property.
In aerial photos, the community appears greener than others, says Martin Jöhr of the building’s management, not without some pride. However, this is more of an exception, added landscape conservationist Rodewald. In many communities, gravel gardens would still count as green spaces.
Many congregations seek dialogue
It is already widespread in many places that building administrations are looking to talk to owners about new buildings to avoid excessive rock desert. For example in Heiden (AR). The community caused a stir last year when it issued guidelines against rock gardens in a regulation.
However, the provision is not legally binding, explains Mayor Gallus Pfister. “We are looking for a discussion.” So far this has always worked. There is also no explicit prohibition in Cham (ZG). The extent to which rock gardens are allowed is checked on a case-by-case basis, for example depending on whether they fit in with the environment. Plus, according to building authorities, rock gardens could sometimes prevent worse.
The gardeners reacted
Jardin Suisse, the Swiss gardeners industry association, responded a long time ago. The association offers its members recommendations and arguments to discuss with clients. This also includes tips on how rock gardens can be implemented in a reasonably ecological sense if clients insist on them. Because not all rock gardens are ecologically bad.
The issue of gravel gardens is also being worked on nationally. National Councilor Martina Munz (SP / SH) presented a proposal last year. However, the regulations were not well received everywhere: Liestal’s neighborhood council rejected the ban on gravel gardens. And in Schaffhausen, the people revoked an initiative that, in addition to various additional measures against land consumption, would have also banned gravel gardens.
