Garden design in Mallorca

A garden in Mallorca has to live through months without rain. We design gardens that keep the winter rain, build their own soil and use plants that cope with heat, wind and drought. The aim is a garden that looks good, gives something back, and needs less water and less work every year.

What you get

The design starts with a visit to your garden. Before we draw anything, we look at five things: the soil, the water, the sun, the wind and what is already growing. Then you receive:

• A soil assessment: what kind of soil you have, how deep it is and what it needs.
• A garden plan: a drawing of the garden seen from above, with beds, paths, trees and water.
• A list of plants: species chosen for your soil, your water and your exposure to sun and wind.

The visit and the plan cost €350–600. The price depends on the size and the state of the garden, and we confirm it in writing before we start. All prices include IVA (21 %).

What we look at during the visit

We use the same visit sheet in every garden, so nothing is forgotten:

1. Zone and climate. Where the garden is, and how exposed it is to the Tramuntana, the cold north wind.
2. Soil. The type of soil, its condition, how compacted it is, its pH, and the wild plants that show what is missing.
3. Slope and orientation. Which way the garden faces and where the water runs when it rains.
4. Shade and sun. Which parts get full sun, part shade or full shade, and what casts the shade: trees, walls or buildings.
5. Water. Every source you have (well, cistern, rain, mains or pond) and how the garden is watered now.
6. Plants and pests. What is already planted, and any pests or diseases.
7. Works. Whether the garden needs earthworks, drainage, walls, clearing or better access.
8. Your plans. What you want from the garden, such as flowers, vegetables, olives, fruit trees or less work, and your budget and timing.
9. Diagnosis. After the visit we write down the three main problems and the next step.

We spend most of the visit listening, and we take photos of every part of the garden. We do not give a price on the spot. Before we leave, we tell you the date the written quote will arrive.

Designing for dry summers

Mallorca has a Mediterranean climate: wet winters and long, hot, dry summers. Most of the rain, about 450 to 650 mm a year, falls between October and March, and August is often completely dry. Summer days can pass 35 °C. Two winds matter most: the cold Tramuntana from the north and north-west, and the warm, dry Xaloc from the south-east. Frost is rare near the coast but possible in the hills in winter.

Soil comes first

The soil changes a lot across the island, and every design starts from it:

Most Mallorcan soil is thin and alkaline. We build it up with compost, mulch and plants that fix nitrogen, before the long-lived trees go in.

Water in the right order

We plan the water in this order:

1. Catch it. Rain from the roof goes into a cistern and from there to drip irrigation. Every millimetre of rain on one square metre of roof gives one litre of water.
2. Slow it down and let it sink in. On a slope, swales along the contour hold the rain and let it soak into the ground.
3. Cover the soil. A thick layer of mulch keeps the soil cool and stops it drying out.
4. Drip, do not spray. Drip irrigation puts the water at the roots and wastes much less than sprinklers.
5. Water deeply and less often. Deep watering makes deep roots, and deep roots survive the summer.
6. Establish, then reduce. Water regularly in the first year and less in the second. From the third year, most Mediterranean plants need little or no extra water.

Plants that work together

We plant in groups of plants that help each other. An olive tree, for example, can grow with white clover and thyme as ground cover, comfrey at its base, and calendula and fennel nearby to bring in useful insects. A group like this needs far less care than a single tree in bare soil. We start with fast, tough plants that build soil and give shelter, and then plant the long-term trees into the better ground.

Extras

You can add these to the design, and the calculator includes them:

• Drip irrigation: design and installation of a drip system, €700–2,200.
• Planting day: a full day with a helper, all plants included, beds mulched, €900–2,800.
• Soil test: a laboratory test of your soil with a written explanation and a plan for the year ahead, €160–280.
• Rainwater harvesting: design of swales and earthworks that catch the rain on your land, €500–1,800.

What it costs

The visit and the plan cost €350–600, plus any extras you choose. Travel depends on your town (areas we serve). Use the budget calculator to see an estimate for your garden, then send it to us on WhatsApp. Once the garden is planted, a garden care plan keeps it going through the year.