You don’t have to use litres of water to make your garden beautiful. Here are some smart techniques for responsible water usage.
In The Hydrozone
Hydrozones are a game-changer when it comes to efficient gardening. By grouping plants based on their water requirements, we can tailor our watering practices to meet their specific needs. Whether in garden beds or containers, arranging plants with similar water needs together allows us to provide adequate hydration without wasting resources. For instance, high-water-usage plants can be placed in one hydrozone, while those with low water requirements can form another group.
This arrangement offers numerous benefits:
Optimises water usage.
Promotes healthy growth.
Minimises water stress on plants.
Improve Your Soil
Plant health starts with soil health, and good soil also helps to save water. Prep your soil well before planting by adding organic matter in the form of compost or rotted manure, as well as bone meal or superphosphate for strong roots, and a slow-release organic fertiliser. Vermiculite is also a good option if you need to increase soil’s water-holding capacity.
By doing this you will:
Create strong roots for more efficient water absorption.
Reduce water runoff.
Increase water-holding capacity.
Grow healthier plants.
Water At The Right Time
We all know that we need to water our gardens, but many of us choose to water at the wrong times. By understanding the best times to water, we can ensure our plants’ wellbeing while minimising water wastage.
It is generally recommended to water gardens in the early morning to allow plants to absorb moisture before the heat of the day sets in. However, it’s essential to monitor soil moisture regularly and adjust watering frequency based on specific plant needs. During hot summer months, additional watering in the evening might be necessary to help your plants recover overnight.
Watering at the right time offers several advantages:
Minimises water evaporation.
Helps prevent fungal diseases.
Helps plants efficiently absorb water.
Much More Mulching
Mulching is an effective technique that not only enhances the aesthetic appeal of our gardens but also plays a vital role in water conservation. By applying a layer of organic or inorganic material, such as bark chips, straw, compost, stones, gravel, nut shells or leaves, on the soil’s surface (and leaving no bare soil visible), we create a protective covering with multiple benefits:
Regulates soil temperature.
Improves soil fertility.
Suppresses weed growth.
Conserves moisture.
Reduces water runoff.
Use Polymer Crystals
Innovative polymer crystals, also known as water-absorbing crystals or hydrogels, have made it much easier to garden without wasting water. These small granules have a remarkable ability to absorb and retain large amounts of water and then release it to plants’ roots, offering several advantages:
Reduced watering frequency.
Healthier, more resilient plant growth.
Thriving plants even in challenging conditions.
More water-wise container gardens and hanging baskets.
Although mulching can be time-consuming and tedious, it is one of the best things you can do for your garden. Mulch retains moisture in the soil, helping the plants and saving water at the same time. Some mulches are also excellent weed suppressors and make beds look neat and tidy. When choosing organic mulches, you also have the benefit of improving the soil at the same time.
There are many materials you can use as mulch, either recycled from the garden or purchased, and organic or inorganic. Take a look at their pros and cons to determine which is right for you.
Straw or Hay
Straw mulch is a great choice for vegetable gardens. While it can look untidy, it conserves moisture incredibly well, making it perfect for moisture-loving veggies that need plenty of water to produce fruits. It is also great for keeping weeds down and is often very cheap (or completely free if you have a farmer or stable owner willing to share nearby). Hay can also be used for the same purpose, but often contains seeds that can fill your veggie garden with weeds. Straw and hay are organic materials that will break down over time to improve the quality of the soil.
Compost
If you have a consistent supply of compost from your own compost heap, consider using it as a mulch. Compost retains tons of moisture and also contains nutrients and organic materials to improve the soil. Compost keeps the soil cool, especially during the hotter months when high temperatures can cause stress. But, if you’re looking to suppress weeds, compost is not the most effective. It also needs to be kept moist to be effective and so is not ideal for those who often forget to water their plants.
Grass Cuttings
In the spring and summer months when lawn mowing becomes an almost weekly task, you may be looking for ways to use the piles and piles of grass clippings you collect. The same can be said for the raked-up fallen leaves in autumn and winter. While these are great for compost, you can also use dried clippings as a wonderful mulching material. This is completely free and makes use of garden waste, but does come with a few caveats. You shouldn’t use any grass clippings that have been treated to avoid damaging the plants they are used on. And, if placed in a thick layer and allowed to dry out, the grass can form a dense mat that actually repels moisture, having the opposite effect.
Wood Chips
Wood chips are a preferred mulch for those that like to keep their garden uniform and tidy. They look great when spread over beds and conserve moisture well. They are also one of the best options for suppressing weeds, especially when placed in a thick layer. You can find hardwood or softwood wood chips that each serve slightly different purposes. Pine chips (softwood) change the acidity of the soil and are great for use around acid-loving plants like azaleas. Hardwood chips take longer to break down but generally remain neutral while doing so.
Landscape Fabric
If you’re looking for a way to suppress weeds, landscaping fabric is your answer. These materials are designed to keep weeds down while still allowing air to flow through the soil, unlike plastic sheeting. In tough-to-manage areas where weeds are really taking over, this option is your best bet. However, it doesn’t look great in the garden, meaning you’ll need to cover it with something else (like stones) to hide it. They also don’t contribute to overall soil health like other mulching materials and make changing up the plants in your garden incredibly difficult.
Each of these materials is great in its own way. Choose the one that best suits the needs of your garden and your plants.
To garden… Geoff Hamilton wrote, “There is nothing like a garden for making you feel small. There you are, right in the middle of the greatest miracle of all – the world of growing things”.
Some of you might think that you cannot grow nearly all that you would like to grow. Yes, some gardening things are more challenging than others, I agree. You did not get on your first bicycle and ride the Tour de France did you? That is the miracle of gardening. Between the soil and the dirty fingernails, it teaches us many lessons. We learn with the seasons and every garden is an individual masterpiece created over time. It grows, as we do.
The good news is that plants are not as fussy as we make them out to be. They generally need a few basic things: good soil, a good watering, sunshine and a good dose of fertiliserevery now and again. And once you understand and accept that all plants have an expiry date, life gets better. We all want that precious perennial from our childhood garden to last forever, but you know what? Perennials only have a lifespan of approximately five years. Annuals only last a season!
Those are the FUN-damentals of gardening. With each season, you can change your colour scheme and add texture. It’s pretty much like having an interior designer at your fingertips, and that designer is you. You create your garden.
Good soil helps to create strong, growing plants. You might wonder what good soil is… analysing it makes for better understanding. Good soil can absorb water, allow air to penetrate and is packed with organic matter, providing nutrients to roots. The good news is that it’s not that difficult to achieve. It might just take a little time and some sweat. Adding compost (organic matter that has broken down over time) allows conditioning of the soil. Another way to add to this process is mulching. This can be done by adding thick layers of leaves around your plants – or even bark chips will do the trick. Over time these chips will break down and add value to your soil. Mulching also suppresses weed growth. Now that is a bargain!
The final basic element to gardening is fertilisers, and when to fertilise. This is a question I am asked often. The best answer is whenever you plant, fertilise. Organic fertilisers complete the cycle of good gardening practices. You never have to fear that you might over fertilise. Organic fertilisers’ nutrients are released slowly and over a longer period of time. There is no danger of plants burning due to chemical compounds and watering right away is optional. All plants need that added boost, so when you see your shrubs start to bud, give them food. Don’t forget your little annuals adding that pop of colour – a liquid fertiliser will do them the world of good.
There are many types of fertilisers on the market, don’t be afraid to ask your garden centre, should you be unsure. We are fortunate that many manufacturers today give us a clear indication of which plant food to use for the many areas of our gardens, whether for our fruit trees, veggie gardens or that special colour spot you just added. So put on your gardening clogs, grab your garden spade and create your own piece of paradise with all the things that grow.
Our Team is ready to answer any questions or concerns that you may have. Feel free to get in touch!
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If we are not available then email us and we will get back to you as soon as possible. hello@tanyavisser.com
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