How to save water on your summer garden

The spate of water restrictions across the country during the past couple of years, together with the drought which nearly crippled the Western Cape from 2015 to 2017, is a huge wake-up call to all South Africans, warned Lasher Tools.

This warning follows a government statement in September 2019 that maintenance work on the Lesotho Highlands Project could result in water restrictions in Gauteng, as well as a warning from the World Bank 15 years ago that South Africa is one of 30 countries internationally that runs the risk of becoming arid in 50 years unless vigorous water saving measures are put in place.

For 90 years, Lasher Tools has been said to be a leading manufacturer and supplier of quality hand tools in the gardening, DIY, agriculture, construction and mining industries in South Africa.

“If we hadn’t realised it before, we are now left without a doubt that water is a scarce resource, and it’s the responsibility of all citizens to conserve this precious commodity,” said Karen Cooper, from Stone Soup on behalf of Lasher Tools.

“As a proud manufacturer, at Lasher Tools we understand that to enjoy a beautiful summer garden you would want to water your garden, before the rain cycle kicks in. Please don’t, or at least do so sparingly. We promise it’s possible to be an environmental champion and water-wise advocate while still enjoying the benefits of a beautiful garden”.

Here are some water-saving tips:

• Maintain a tip-top but water-wise lawn: “If you want to keep a lawn, try and cut down on the area by increasing the size of your flower and vegetable beds”.

• Add mulch: “Mulch, like compost, straw or even wood chips doesn’t only improve the structure of soil, it also holds water for longer so your plants’ roots stay moist during the hot summer days”.

• Invest in a rainwater tank: “You can save water for those weeks when it doesn’t rain and ensure that your garden remains hydrated without having to rely on municipal water, simply by using the rain runoff from your home’s guttering”.

• Be water-wise with your planting: “Group plants that have similar watering requirements together so that you don’t waste water, and damage plants that need less water. Do not plant roses and lavender together, because roses have a high watering requirement, where as lavender is suited for drier climates”.

• Re-use your household’s water: “Put a bucket in the shower with you and use any spill off in the garden. You could also invest in a grey-water system which redirects the water from your bath, washing machine and dishwasher to a tank for your garden later”.

• Water deeply: “By watering the bases of your plants directly, you aren’t wasting any water on weeds”.

• Stick to Level 1 restrictions: “Level 1 water restrictions stipulate that you can’t water your garden between 6am and 6pm. It’s a good guideline to stick to, even when no restrictions are in place. By watering when it’s hot you lose a lot of water to evaporation and can risk burning the plants when water droplets act as a magnifier for the sun’s rays”.