Page 18 - Blue Valley Issue 5 2021

AESTHETICS

CREATING A WATER-WISE VERGE

An attractive verge
creates a favourable
first impression of your
property, but with the
need to save water, this
area is often the first to
show neglect. To avoid
this, convert it into a
water-wise garden area.

ransforming your verge into a water-
wise garden creates an attractive, low
Tmaintenance garden that will:
• Save water
• Create a beautiful green space for your
street
• Create a cooling effect and counteract
‘heat island’ effects in summer
• Provide ecological benefits, such as All plants need a good start, so initial soil Shrubs: Euryops, daisies, bulbine, felicia,
providing habitat for local wildlife and preparation is important. lavender, rosemary, santolinas, beach salvia, blue
promoting biodiversity. sage with blue flowers would be suitable.
Dig a couple of spade depths and improve
rules anD reGulations the soil by incorporating generous amounts Make your verge environmentally friendly and
Where local councils own the land outside of compost. connect suburbia with nature by providing a
your property, check if there are restrictions corridor of colourful water-wise flowers that will
or guidelines to planting on your verge. Rules On sloping verges, prevent soil erosion by attract bees, butterflies, birds, beetles and moths.
may also apply in gated communities, golf growing plants with blinding roots to anchor
estates and retirement villages. the soil, such as agapanthus. Slopes are ideal If space is limited, choose blue, yellow and mauve
for flowers that do not need rich soil, and flowers, such as lavender, thyme, rosemary,
Ensure that plants on verges do not block cannot tolerate wet feet. strelitzias and agapanthus.
the vision of pedestrians, cyclists and drivers.
if there is foot traffic, the plants should not Suitable plants include: Agapanthus, arctotis, maintaininG VerGes
have thorns or sharp points. Accept that there aloes, gazanias, mesembryanthemum, proteas • Do not use pesticides or herbicides.
will inevitably be some damages by careless and leucospermum. • Cut back any plants encroaching on
passers-by, for example children playing ball pavements or road gutters.
or people walking their dogs. PlantinG For VerGes • In periods of prolonged heat, water thoroughly
There is a wealth of indigenous plants so water penetrates to the root area.
PreParation available that are low maintenance, water- • Water early in the morning while it is cool.
The most practical way of saving water is to wise and can survive harsh summers. • Mulching saves on watering.
eliminate grass and high maintenance plants
and to choose drought-tolerant plants that Low growing plants: Arctotis, daylilies, wild Article by Kay Montgomery
are local to your area, or plants that grow in irises, pelargoniums, mesembryanthemum
similar climatic conditions. and osteospermum. Source:
https://radioislam.org.za/a/create-a-water-wise-pavement-garden/

16 • Issue 5 2021• BLUE VALLEY NEWS