AS water, our most precious commodity, becomes even more precious with each passing day, achieving a waterwise garden is of paramount importance.
Get started by following these simple steps and tips on soil improvement and mulching.
Soil improvement
- Adding organic matter to the soil improves both its moisture and nutrient holding capacity, thus saving on water and fertiliser.
- It is particularly important to improve the top 15 to 20 cm of soil where the feeder roots of plants will develop.
- Old animal manures, compost and proprietary products are ideal soil improvers.
- Mix them in equal parts with the soil before planting out.
- A regular application of a soil wetting agent in spring is recommended.
Mulching
- Mulching is enormously beneficial for all plants.
- The mulch should be spread over the entire planted area to a minimum thickness of 50mm.
- Always leave a breathing space of 50mm around stems and trunks.
- Raw materials like woodchips, chipped tree waste or similar, whether bought-in or homemade, are ideal mulching materials. However, if the mulch is watered regularly, you may need to add some extra nitrogen in the form of animal manures, blood and bone, etc, to prevent the natural breaking down process from drawing nitrogen away from the plants.
- Materials such as lucerne hay, pea straw, seaweed and compost can be used for mulch, but since they break down quicker, they are best used within the drip zone of plants.
Source: Water Corporation