Get your garden ready for a hotter, drier summer

ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS - With seasonal forecasts pointing to warmer-than-normal temperatures and below-normal rainfall across much of South Africa in the months ahead, gardeners are being encouraged to make every drop of water count.

Following an unusually dry winter in parts of the country, now is a good time to prepare gardens for the summer months while ensuring they remain colourful, productive and enjoyable.

The timing also coincides with Garden Day on Sunday 18 October, when South Africans will be encouraged to put down their tools, gather with friends and family and celebrate their green spaces.

“A water-wise garden doesn’t have to mean a dry or boring garden,” said garden designer and gardening expert Ian Dommisse.

“There are so many ways to make better use of the water we have, while still creating gardens that are beautiful, productive and enjoyable.”

Here are five ways to prepare your garden for the months ahead:

Make every drop count

Suitable greywater from the kitchen, bath or shower can be reused in the garden instead of being sent down the drain.

When reusing kitchen greywater, avoid water containing oils or fatty substances, which can cause problems in soil and irrigation systems. Using an organic or eco-friendly dishwashing liquid can also help make kitchen water more suitable for garden use.

Get water to the roots

Olla pots are porous clay pots buried in the soil that slowly release water directly to plant roots.

They can help reduce evaporation and ensure water is delivered where plants need it most.

Give your soil a helping hand

Mulch helps protect soil from heat and evaporation while improving its ability to retain moisture.

Gardeners can use whatever is readily available, including fallen leaves, compost or commercially available mulch.

Choose plants that can handle the heat

A water-wise garden does not have to be dull.

Choosing attractive, drought-resilient plants suited to the local climate can provide colour, texture and interest while using less water.

Consider a greywater system

For those looking at a longer-term solution, properly designed greywater systems can collect household water in a tank and redistribute it to the garden.

Preparing a garden for a hotter, drier summer does not have to become another chore.

Garden Day is an annual celebration of South Africa’s gardens and encourages people to enjoy green spaces of all shapes and sizes, from large back gardens and productive vegetable plots to balconies, windowsills and shared community spaces.

Now in its 11th year, the event aims to celebrate the role gardens play in providing fresh food, supporting biodiversity and creating spaces where people can connect and relax.

This year’s theme is From Garden to Table: Grow, Gather, Celebrate, encouraging South Africans to explore the many ways gardens can enrich everyday life.

With a little preparation, gardens can be ready for Garden Day and better equipped to cope with the summer season that follows.

Garden Day takes place on Sunday 18 October. Practical, month-by-month advice on what to plant and do in different regions is available in the Garden Day Grow Guide at gardenday.co.za.

Whether it is a large garden or a few pots on a windowsill, Garden Day is an opportunity to grow what works, make the most of available resources and celebrate the simple pleasure of gardening.

Choose plants that don’t need a lot of water.