Watch Tanya Visser’s top tips for creating a gorgeous water-wise garden
Your garden is an avid and thirsty consumer of SA’s precious water resources, but Tanya Visser and Builders have great advice on how to cut down on its water demands – and save you money along the way.
Day Zero is fast approaching for Cape Town residents – a situation that promises to present innumerable challenges and difficulties for an entire province. Moreover, the water conditions in the beautiful Eastern Cape are also balancing on a knife’s edge. Worryingly, those of us in different parts of the country seem to have quickly forgotten the immense drought that we faced in 2016, and are using water as if it weren’t a scare resource.
We all have a responsibility to save as much water as possible for uncertain future conditions. Of course, saving water also equates to saving money every month.
The good news is that a few hassle-free and easy DIY tricks can make a significant impact on your garden’s water requirements. In the Builders video below, SA’s favourite garden expert, Tanya Visser, explains (in her always clear and enthusiastic manner!) some simple but clever techniques that’ll transform your garden watering techniques.
Tanya’s top water-wise tips for green thumbs of all levels of expertise
The underrated art of soil replenishing mulch
Another technique that seems to be massively underutilised, even by experienced and knowledgeable gardening veterans, is the use of mulching. Mulching has many benefits that include:
- Providing rich nutrients to the soil, improving its quality and reducing the need for water
- Reducing the growth of weeds that are both frustrating and water hungry
- Providing a ground cover that keeps surface moisture from evaporating before plant roots can properly absorb it
- Certain mulches add to the aesthetics of beds, pot plants and focal points
- Mulches can recycle garden waste that has been composted (remember that the upcoming autumn season is a brilliant time to collect leaves for the compost heap)
Watch Tanya’s top water saving mulching tips
Stunning low water demand plants
No water-wise list would be complete without mentioning plants that remain beautiful – and add to any colour palette – while nonetheless economising on ground soil water usage.
In addition to these exquisite options there are a two tricks that should be kept in mind
- Plants that have similar water demands can be grouped together to avoid the wastage that occurs when high water demand species are placed between those that need less to thrive
- Both plants and lawns can be trained to use less water – by slowly reducing your watering of key spots in the garden, plant and lawn roots adapt to the new conditions and survive the water deduction
Builders is the perfect partner for all your water-wise gardening and household needs. Visit your nearest Builders for expert advice, affordable products and the very best in service. Alternatively, shop online here. Happy gardening!
