PRINTED MARCH 2006 Creating a water-efficient garden Bulbs/Corms Most bulbs/corms are suitable. Some of the more hardy bulbs/corms are: Watsonias, Chinkerinchee and Knysna lily (Cytanthus), Moreas, Amaryllis, Freesias, Ixias, etc. Several Agapanthus species although not bulbs are drought-tolerant and make excellent ground covers. Annuals Very few annual plants can survive drought for long periods, but with MULCHING, and careful selection of the many varieties available, one can have a very good display, Ground preparation Mulching and composting have the following benefits: conserves soil moisture and reduces evaporation of water prevents soil erosion and run-off and retains maximum water reduces weed growth and thereby saves water absorbs heat and keeps the soil cool beneath reduces the fluctuation in temperature improves the soil condition and nutrients during compost decomposure Straw, bark chips, gravel, pebbles, exposed aggregate, nut shells and leaves are other materials which can be used for mulching. Soil water retention is vitally important to a plant’s ability to utilise water. Try using a soil-wetting agent to help the soil retain and absorb the water which is applied to it. Watering Grey water or the water one discards in the home is often wasted, instead of used in the garden. Many people have devised ways of catching bathwater and rainwater which can be recycled and used in the garden. During water restrictions people are only permitted to water the garden on a specified day (depending upon the level of restriction), before 10:00 in the morning or after 17:00 in the evening. Watering early in the morning allows less water to be lost through evaporation, Certain plants develop fungi, if watered at night, e.g. mildew on roses and zinnias or rust on lawns, A PROPERLY DESIGNED irrigation system could save up to 30% of water used. Always override your irrigation system if it rains. Encourage deep roots by watering for longer periods but less often. This applies particularly to lawns. Conclusion It is important to realise that a water-wise garden planted now, will continue to yield benefits not only in the immediate years, but 40 or 50 years hence, when water scarcity will be even more severe. The challenge to us all is the optimal use of water in our gardens as a way of life and the most effective means to this end is to avail ourselves of the enormous floral wealth of indigenous plants available here in the Western Cape. Saving water is a way of life Saving water is a way of life
2
Embed
Creating A Water-Efficient Garden: Saving Water Is A Way of Life - Capetown, New Zealand
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
PRINTED MARCH 2006
Creating a water-efficient garden
Bulbs/Corms
Most bulbs/corms are suitable.
Some of the more hardy bulbs/corms are: Watsonias,
Chinkerinchee and Knysna lily (Cytanthus), Moreas, Amaryllis,
Freesias, Ixias, etc. Several Agapanthus species although not
bulbs are drought-tolerant and make excellent ground covers.
Annuals
Very few annual plants can survive drought for long periods,
but with MULCHING, and careful selection of the many varieties
available, one can have a very good display,
Ground preparation
Mulching and composting have the following benefits:
conserves soil moisture and reduces evaporation of water
prevents soil erosion and run-off and retains maximum water