Water Wise: Rocks in your garden

In these times of environmental consciousness and eco-homeownership, rock garden landscaping ideas are near the forefront of eco-friendly design plans. These ideas are timeless, and of course they are low maintenance. Rocks also make wonderful homes for all the creatures that like to live in cooler, darker habitats, thus encouraging other wildlife that feed and seek shelter in this eco system. Using rocks, boulders and pebbles to add interest and focal points to your landscape is a solid investment. Rocks are also ideal to retain an area on a slope or use grouped close together to form a beautiful rockery and even used to line pathways and edge garden beds.

Rock gardens also make perfect backdrops for a water garden or oasis reminiscent of a lagoon abundant with wildlife. Lush ferns, palms and cycads with spiky grasses all come together to create the feeling of a calm and balanced eco system. Perhaps there’s an area in your landscape that is in need of landscaping. Is there a stretch of land on the verge just begging for your attention? Consider placing your rock garden here, creating a layered effect with cleverly placed rocks and plants of various heights and textures. Never underestimate the wisdom of choosing water wise plants, like aloes and succulents especially in a rock garden, so this area becomes a strictly low-watering zone. The use of rocks in your garden design is entirely dependent upon your personal tastes, budget and what you already have to work with. Adding little rock elements here and there and softening them up with bright foliage and other garden accessories will create a space that is attractively warm and interesting.

Small Garden Ideas: Keeping moisture in your garden

Mulching isn’t always viewed in a good light, as it conjures up images of untidy clippings and leaves, packed into our beautifully manicured garden beds.

Truth is, we couldn’t do more good for our gardens!  By mulching, we protect the moisture from escaping during times of little or no rain, and it has the added benefit of keeping weeds at bay.

Mulching has also become “pretty” as one has so much more choice than before, e.g. beautiful pebbles, bark chips and even broken nut shells.  The clippings and leaves do so much more than just mulch, because over time, they slowly, slowly break down and becomes compost to your garden.

So let’s face it, we all have leaves we could use at no cost to ourselves but which adds huge value to our gardens.  Make it your mission in future to sweep the garden leaves from your driveways into the garden beds, not into black bags!

10 Ways to care for your lawn during times of drought

Below are 10 simple and quick ways to keep your garden looking its best during water restrictions. 

1.     Watch your mow height:  Lift the height setting of your mower one notch. Whatever you do, do not cut your lawn too short when it is water stressed. Not only can it be fatal but stressed lawn lets in weeds and is a prime target for pests.

2.     Mow your lawn regularly: If you leave the lawn to grow too long and then suddenly mow it during these dry times then your lawn will go into stress and dry up.

3.     Use organic fertiliser pellets to feed your lawn:  We have to keep our lawn strong and well matted by regular feeding it. The more well matted your lawn, the less weeds will invade your lawn. Organic fertiliser is used because it doesn’t require watering when applied.

4.     Use “Grey Water” to water your lawn: Connect a soft plastic pipe to your shower, bath and even washing machine outlet to divert this grey water onto your lawn instead of the drain. Move the position of the pipe on a daily basis to give each section of lawn a watering opportunity. This soapy type water is also a great option if one has pests in the lawn.  It’s a “kill 2 birds with 1 stone” approach!

5.     Plant trees to provide afternoon shade for your lawn: The hottest and fiercest sun is the afternoon sun. Lawns that are exposed to the full blaze of the afternoon sun dry to a crisp during water scarce times. Avoid this trouble in future by planting trees to cast shade on the lawn in the afternoons.

6.     Weed your lawn fastidiously:  Weeds take over lawns seemingly overnight if left unchecked, especially in dry periods as they require a lot less water that grass. Do not lose your lawn to weeds!

7.     Water deeply but less often: Help your lawn develop deep growing roots by watering deeply but less often. This will ensure a much hardier and resilient lawn during the drought.

8.     Keep the termites at bay: Inspect your lawn regularly for any termite activity. During the drought the termites are the most active and they thrive on the dried out bits of your lawn. Their aggressive feeding habits can destroy your lawn.

9.     Reduce your lawn area: Rather have a small patch of good looking lawn than a large lawn that cannot be watered or cared for. Allow some of your lawn areas to turn into wild grass areas and choose a smaller patch of lawn close to your entertainment area that you can concentrate your efforts on.

10.  Allow for mixed lawn varieties: During these difficult growing conditions one may have to overlook being a purist regarding grass varieties. For now the most important aim is to have a green lawn even if it is two different types that are growing side by side and intertwined. It often works out for your benefit too as the one variety will flourish in shadier sides of your garden and the other in the sunnier.