You can do your own garden
Helen White, who designs gardens for a living, believes it is possible and encourages aspiring garden keepers to be spontaneous and go green to make earth a beautiful and healthy place to live in.
JOHANNESBURG SOUTHÂ – Â If every garden tells you something about the gardener, do your garden to tell your neighbours something beautiful about yourself.
It takes patience and great imagination to plan that mesmerising garden that fascinates your neighbours, but it can be done:
Plan
The most basic thing is to know where in your potential garden space your hot spots and shade spots will be. And to know the areas that will require a lot of water and the areas that will require less water.
Plan and know where you would like to have your focal points and where you want your entertainment area to be.
Good soil mix is always vital, so consider it before you plant anything.
Water-wise
Be water-wise, as it is very important to know that some plants drink a lot more water than others. A planned irrigation system could save water and help water your plants responsibly. Remember that something as important as water could hinder your plans and flowers’ ability to survive.
Fertilisers
It is important to decide what fertiliser you are going to use, as there are organic and chemical fertilisers to choose from. For someone who has dogs, it is not recommended to use the organic variety, as the animals could dig it out. Chemical fertiliser is recommended in such cases.
Climate
It is vital to consider the climate. It dictates what plants and flowers can be planted in your area. There are many plants that can easily grow and thrive in Durban, but that would die within days of being planted in Gauteng.
Fortunately, indigenous plants do not require a lot of water and they attract butterflies and birds with their beautiful colours and forms.
Pet-friendly garden
If you have pets, you have to make sure your plants, fountains, pots and stepping stones pose no harm to your pets. Animals like to play and sometimes they do not know what could harm them.
Ensuring that all the plants in your gardens are non-toxic and the decorations are well balanced will obviously make your garden pet-friendly.
Remember that a garden is more than plants – water fountains, pots, stepping stones and decorations are also crucial in establishing a lovely garden where you can sit and eat with your family. In fact, nothing beats the sound of water from a fountain; it creates that enticing atmosphere that says: “This is the place to be.”
