Winter is a great time for Waterwise Landscaping
There is undoubtedly a dire need to save our most precious commodity – water! Here in Gauteng in particular we are facing an impending water shortage due to global warming, an expected return of load shedding, and planned maintenance and closure of the Lesotho Highlands water project in October 2024. We can achieve water conservation through having a Waterwise garden, attained by creating the right type of garden through astute landscaping and by utilising several water conservation and collection devices, such as rainwater harvesting. We live in an age when the garden area of homes is beginning to shrink, simply due to a lack of space, but for those who do have the luxury of a garden, whether small or expansive, there are some obvious ways via landscaping wisely to reduce our demand for water. Let's take a look at a few things we can do right now to prepare ourselves for a possible water shortage, minimise water usage and still have a stunning outdoor area because Winter is a great time for Waterwise Landscaping…
Minimise lawns and large flowerbeds
We have to realise that lawns and large flower beds, as attractive as they are, use the most water dependent in the garden and this can be minimised. We can still have beautiful lawns and flower beds but they can be enhanced by what we call ‘hard’ landscaping, which are attractive areas that don’t require water. Some of these include patios, pathways, firepits, and pergolas. Cobbled paving - Pieces of lawn in between beautiful large paving stones with cobble edging are just as pretty as a large lawn and this is not only a way to reduce water usage but a lovely quaint touch in a well-landscaped garden.
Choose Waterwise and Indigenous Plants
Remember that there are many waterwise and indigenous plants that are perfect for dry climates and these obviously require minimal watering. At Windy Willows we would be delighted to give you advice on how to introduce more succulents and indigenous plants into your garden.
Irrigation
Our irrigation services are also water savers and simply setting timers to water at exactly the right time, in the right areas of the garden and only as much water as is required can be a great water saving. We have experts in this area who can advise you and provide only the irrigation you need.
Rainwater harvesting
Global warming means storms are getting heavier, with fewer days of rain in a year but more rain arriving in a short period when the clouds finally break. If you collect the rain off your roof and store it in water tanks, you can use that rain during the dry spells. This will save you money on our ever increasing water bills, and will help relieve pressure on the precious water in South Africa’s dams. You will do your bit to conserve this precious resource while still enjoying a beautiful garden!
Consult the experts
Windy Willows offers an affordable landscaping service for members of the public who would like to upgrade their gardens without having to take a second mortgage on the house! We also specialise in Waterwise landscaping and can install water conservation systems including irrigation, rainwater harvesting , and water storage and backup systems. Windy Willows offers free landscaping advice to members of the public. Just bring a diagram or photo of your garden to the nursery, together with the size of the beds, and we will provide advice on which plants to put where. Alternatively, for a modest fee*, you can get a two-hour consultation at your house with a trained landscaper. Since the focus of our campaign this month is landscaping and water, we should be encouraging people to get a landscape design now, or prepare for water shortages likely to come later this year. (Winter in Gauteng really is a good time to do hard landscaping jobs, such as pathways and patios, due to the lack of rain!.) Read next article: Hot tips to create wonderful Winter gardens!