Be Water Wise in your garden
Leslie Hoy from Rand Water recently visited the Johannesburg South Garden Club to talk to them about the importance of being Water Wise in their gardens.
JOHANNESBURG SOUTH – He explained to the members how to save water in their gardens and said, “Presently parts of South Africa, especially the Free State, are experiencing a drought which will have dire consequences on food supply in SA. Daily temperatures are rising and record temperatures have been recorded. The forecast from the SA Weather Bureau predicts above normal minimal temperatures and it’s looking like we may have more hot and dry weather. With this in mind it’s time to plan gardens which will need less water.”
“Recycle water as much as you can. Reroute ‘grey water’ from your sink, bath and shower to water your garden. Have water tanks which will collect rainwater for reuse in your garden. Water between 18:00 and 06:00, this will prevent too much water loss to evaporation. Invest in a flexible irrigation system with rain sensors that will turn the system off if it has rained. Water only when necessary and water deeply, this should encourage deep rooting of plants,” he added.
“Less grass means less watering. Instead of having a huge expanse of lawn, choose gravel and pebble pathways instead. Even consider Astro Turf for small areas close to a patio which will always be evergreen. Also remember lawns need to rest and shouldn’t be watered all the year round. Mulch is free! Don’t throw anything away in your garden, using leaves and grass cuttings. Don’t dig this into the beds, leave it on top. You can save up to 70 per cent of water this way.
“For a cheap drip irrigation system you can use plastic cold drink bottles. Make tiny holes in the top or the bottom of the bottles and place it on the soil of garden beds.
“Also create a garden which won’t need too much water. Visit your local garden nurseries and enquire which plants grow well without a lot of water. Bush violet, honey flower and acacia require less watering and overall maintenance. Certain plants such as aloes and strelizia’s have strong, fleshy root systems, allowing them to reach deep into the soil, and many surface roots, which extend far away from the plant. Annuals such as African daisy, marigold, verbena and kochia can thrive with minimum water,” he said.
The members all enjoyed his talk and went away with valuable advice to try and save water.
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