Water-wise Gardening : Do’s and Dont’s
With no end in sight to the current water shortages, planting a water-wise garden presents the opportunity to not only save money but to also do your bit for the environment. Paarl Nursery offers these tips for saving this precious resource without having to sacrifice your beautiful backyard…
DO choose the right plants
In general, indigenous plants are best suited to our dry conditions in South Africa and will cope better during periods of prolonged drought. In hot dry areas, go for drought-resistant species, such as succulents, or plants that have thick waxy cuticles, reflective grey foliage or are covered in fine hairs, all of which help plants conserve water. (See A Guide to Water-wise Plants below.)
Indigenous plants tend to be most resistant to drought conditions
Image source: palindromereporter.wordpress.com
DON’T forget to mulch
Mulch helps to keep the soil cool and reduces evaporation. It also limits water run-off and erosion, suppresses weed growth and enriches the soil. It is available in a variety of options including bark chips, compost and dried leaves.
Retain soil moisture with bark mulch.
Image source: allianceforwaterefficiency.org
DO plant ground covers
Ground covers play an important role in keeping the soil cool and help with soil erosion on slopes. They also cut down on maintenance by reducing weed regrowth. Examples of great ground covers include Carpobrotus edulis (sour fig), Aptenia (ice plant), Mesembryanthemum (Vygies), Helichrysum (Kooigoed) and Felicia (daisy bushes).
Great indigenous ground covers: Aptenia (left) and Felicia
Image sources: flickriver.com (left) and sfbotanicalgarden.org
DON’T have a lawn
Not only do lawns require heaps of upkeep but they’re also very thirsty. However, if you’re very attached to your turf, then plant indigenous easy-care grasses, like Cynodon, Buffalo or Fiddler’s Green Blend. Don’t mow the grass too short as longer leaves shade the roots and reduce water evaporation. And aerate your lawn by piercing it with a garden fork to help with the absorption of water – this can reduce the need for watering by up to 50%.
If you can’t part with your grass, plant easy-care indigenous Kikuyu
Image source: ninjagrass.com.au
DO create shade and windbreaks
Sun and wind dry out the soil and increase the need for watering. In contrast, shade and shelter keep the soil cool and moist. Consider changing hot or windy areas into shady sheltered areas by planting water-wise trees to create shade, and hedges and shrubs to act as windbreaks.
If you can’t part with your grass, plant easy-care indigenous Kikuyu
Image source: ninjagrass.com.au
A Guide to Water-wise PlantsTREES• Cunonia capensis (red alder): Fast-growing dark green glossy leaves with bronze-tinged new growth • Olea Africana (wild olive): Grey-green foliage with a bushy habit • Searsia (Rhus) pendulina (white karree): Fast-growing; will provide good shade in around three years HARDY SHRUBS• Halleria lucida (tree fuchsia): Small, orange, tubular flowers • Raphiolepsis Indica (Indian hawthorn): Tough, dark green leaves; showy masses of pink or white flowers in spring followed by black berries • Carissa macrocarpa (num-num): Bright green leaves; star-shaped white flowers followed by red edible fruit; thorny but worthwhile planting, especially as a hedge FLOWERING SHRUBS• Plumbago: Blue or white flowers; makes a bushy hedge and is loved by butterflies • Tecomaria capensis (Cape honeysuckle): Red, salmon, orange or yellow flowers; loved by sunbirds |
For guidance on water-wise gardening, visit at Paarl Nursery, Farm 1348, R45 (Simondium Road), Southern Paarl; call 021 863 1036/7; or go to www.paarlnursery.co.za.
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