Use of phrygana in ground cover and utilization of their sensible value in landscape architecture

Scarcity of water and the continuous fall of the ground water level are a great problem of the planet. On the other hand, the need of modern people for water has critically increased. Science is searching for ways to save water in various human activities. Application of lawn as a major material for covering the ground is used intensively over the last years. Lawn is highly preferred by people for sensible and practical reasons. Usually the selected plants and the proposed planning are not compatible with the environmental features of an area and the character of the landscape. Commonly turfs are proposed that demand special irrigation, fertilization and use of machines and consist of plants that need much water. The use of such a turf aggravates the irrigation net, especially in the spring and summer months, as most of the plants used need great quantities of water and prefer cold climate. Greece is characterized by dry summer with rare rainfalls. The use of lawn in dry areas should be reconsidered and the main plants should come from the natural vegetation and the climate zones of the area. The reasons are mainly ecological, functional and aesthetic. In this paper, the possibility of reduction or replacement of the lawn and the possible adoption of alternative plants, especially phrygana, are examined. The adoption of alternative solutions for the cover of the ground is dedicated not only by aesthetic, but also by ecological and functional needs. This does not mean that the lawn is not needed. It is important that, mixture of local species, completely adapted to the local climate conditions, is used. By this way plants are better adapted to the local dry conditions and this entails not only clear reduction of irrigation and fertilization, but also of tolerance to the diseases.