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Garden well and still save water? You can do it!

Garden well and still save water? You can do it!

by | Nov 4, 2016 | Gardening, Water Wise

It’s tough out there folks. We have to save, save and save all the water we can! Harsh restrictions have been put in place by certain municipalities in South Africa. For me, this is an ideal opportunity to change our gardening ‘bad habits’ and, most importantly, to toughen up our plants!

Here are my top water wise gardening tips for surviving the water restrictions:

#1

If you have to choose what to keep alive, then let the lawn go but please don’t dig it up. It’s far better to have dead grass covering and protecting the soil than nothing at all. Grass is the least of your worries when it comes to your garden. When the restrictions are lifted, it’s a simple day project to replace a dead lawn with instant lawn sods.[ux_image id=”3747″]

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#2

Invest in the Gardena drill pump. It’s amazing and will take away all the hassle of distributing grey water to your garden beds. Remember – grey water (from your bath, for example) is a water wise must and your garden will love it.[ux_image id=”3843″]

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#3

Take a 2-litre plastic bottle and turn it into a slow-release drip irrigation system for trees and large shrubs:

  • Using a cordless drill with a maximum of a 5mm drill bit, drill about twenty holes around the perimeter of the plastic bottle.
  • Bury the bottle alongside the plant with its neck sticking out of the soil.
  • Simply open the plastic lid and fill the bottle with water. The water is then released slowly and gently as the plant needs it. Simple and easy!

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Make your own composter and start composting

Make your own composter and start composting

by | Jun 1, 2016 | DIY, Gardening

Get composting with this simple do-it-yourself project.

Gather Together:

  • 4 treated wattle panels (you can also use chicken wire fencing or sheets of corrugated iron or plastic)
  • 4 plastic coated metals fence droppers (wooden ones will do)
  • Cable ties
  • Newspaper
  • Straw
  • Grass clippings
  • Leaves
  • Compost activator (there are various ones to choose from)
  • Shredder for small branches

The Process: 

  1. Choose a level area that is easily accessible and where the composter can remain for a while. You don’t want to have to move it.
  2. Knock a fence dropper into the ground to a depth of around 300mm.
  3. Attach one of the panels to the pole using cable ties.
  4. Continue knocking in the fence droppers and tying the panels to the poles to form a square, leaving the last one untied for access.
  5. Cut off the excess fence dropper sticking out at the top of the panels.
  6. Start your compost with a layer of shredded newspaper, then a layer of straw, grass clippings and leaves.
  7. Add compost activator to the mix.
  8. You can now add kitchen waste and garden prunings.
  9. To make life easier, put small branches through a shredder.
  10. Turn the compost every 4-6 weeks. Your compost should be ready to use after eight weeks, depending on conditions.