With water restrictions a reality, one has to think about your garden a bit differently than normally but that does not mean you can’t garden and create your haven in which to escape the heat at the end of the day.
Become a Water Wise gardener with Eckards.
Have you noticed how some plants in your garden seem to be flourishing even with less water and no rain?
Those are the champions of the drought garden.
When it comes to water-wise plants, we have a few favourites such as Agapanthus, they will easily go without water for a few weeks and they bounce back after a good soaking.
Bougainvilleas are looking better than ever, Day Lilies are better this year and even some roses are even better than they were in spring.
There are numerous articles about what to grow to be water-wise and on water zoning your garden.
We thought we would have a different take on water-wise this month. Instead of replanting your garden, how do you survive the current situation with the garden you have?
Day lilies are enjoying the heat!
Our water-wise survival tips for the garden you have
- Keep your containers from drying out by placing a layer of compost on them. This will help retain moisture and prevent wind from drying out the surface of the soil.
- Feed with an organic fertiliser such as BioGanic to help plants grow stronger cell walls which will help them be more resilient to the heat. Organic fertilisers don’t wash out the soil with tap watering so your plants get the best of both worlds.
- Watering at the end of the day as the sun sets will help cool the garden and less water is lost to evaporation. Water will also get deeper to the shrubs and more established plants and as the next morning starts the whole garden has water to get them ready for another hot day.
- Use a watering can to water your containers around the garden. You’ll be surprised as to how much water you will save not losing water to the paving as one goes from one pot to the next.
- Check your hose and tap connections that they are not dripping and loosing water. Replace the washers and o-rings to stop the drip and get the water where you need it most.
- Plant your bedding plants in the right position. Shade loving impatiens that get some sun will need more water than if they were in the shade. Become a water wise gardener and plant to limit the amount of water needed.
Information supplied by Eckards
