Low maintenance gardening at Klipriviersberg Recreation Centre
“At first I became caught up in the corporate world but realised after a few years this wasn’t for me and began my own company, Grounded Landscaping, in 2011.”
JOHANNESBURG South Garden Club met on October 20 at Klipriviersberg Recreation Centre, where they enjoyed a talk given by Glenice Ebedes, owner of Grounded Landscaping.
Glenice grew up in Zimbabwe where the climate is tropical and as a youngster spent many happy hours in the garden, laughing she said, “Fighting for my own garden space with my mom because I wanted to create my own garden.”
She moved here in 2001 and met her future husband Ryan.
“At first I became caught up in the corporate world but realised after a few years this wasn’t for me and began my own company, Grounded Landscaping, in 2011. I have a team of eight full-time members now and we celebrated our seventh birthday on September 1 this year,” Glenice added.
Glenice is a graduate of Lifestyle College and an active member of the Guild of Landscape Designers.
Chatting to the garden club members she discussed how they specialise in indigenous, low-maintenance gardens that will attract wildlife to the garden and enhance the biodiversity of the area.
“Our gardens are planned to ensure correct structure, plant selection and placement. We love returning to our clients’ gardens after a season or two to see how they’ve progressed,” she added.
Low maintenance gardens
“Lawn is high maintenance and many homeowners are shying away from having a lawn, preferring a more natural garden with lots of trees. It’s fallacy plants don’t grow under trees, as many do. Impatiens are one of the most popular plants that love to grow in the shade as well as coleus and hellebore,” added Glenice.
Water-wise gardening
Plant dietes, which are grass-like perennials, look lovely in gardens, are tough plants and very hardy. Once established they require little watering or maintenance. Wild irises are the perfect plants for the busy gardener as they are low maintenance, water-wise and easy to grow. There is also dietes bicolour with yellow flowers. These can be mass-planted to create beautiful backdrops to a bed, or used as filler shrubs for dry areas in the garden.
Tulbaghia (wild garlic) has become very popular with gardeners and has a long flowering period, surviving extended dry spells as well as heavy rain and is used in a sunny to semi-shade position.
Agapanthus is one of the most popular plants in South Africa with its beautiful blue or white blooms which look stunning during the summer flowering season.
Succulents
Most succulents need very little water and thrive in dry conditions, liking direct sunshine. If you do plant them in shade put them under a tree that will provide sunlight from time to time throughout the day. Make sure the soil has good drainage and feed with an organic fertiliser.
A haven for creatures
Before deciding on what plants to put in your garden, find out which birds live around you. Indigenous plants are often best for attracting birds to the garden. You can put in a bird feeder with seeds and fruits, which will attract birds, and put in a bird bath. You will also need at least one tree, which provides shade for birds. Use annuals, bulbs and grasses as well as succulents to attract insects.
Glenice ended her talk chatting about her book, Gardener’s Guide to Indigenous Garden Plants of Southern Africa.
Dennis Boddington (chairperson) advised members to bring flowers, plants and vegetables for the show table which is shown every month at the Saturday morning meeting.
For more information on the gardening club phone Dennis on 083 642 1967/011 432 6208 or Mike Richardson (secretary) on 081 829 0526 or 011 432 1561.
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