Page 13 - Landscape SA 102

ADVERTORIAL

LATE AUTUMN AND

EARLY WINTER, A

GARDENER’S FREE GIFT

By Dr Leslie Hoy, Manager, Environmental Management
Services, Rand Water

We are well into the throes of winter and by now, the last
of the leaves will be dropping from trees in our gardens.
Unfortunately, far too many people either pile them up,
take them to the dump, place them on the pavement as
part of the weekly refuse removal or worse still, burn them.
This is all such a waste! In today’s world, we need to grab
every free gift we can.

Two simple things to do with your
leaves (even if there are heaps of
them):
1. Use them as mulch: I have used
leaves for almost 23 years as a mulch
in my garden. All garden beds are
layered with leaves. For beds where
I have frost sensitive plants such as
begonias, Plectranthus spp, Hypoestes
spp and Crassulas, I cover them with
a layer of leaves up to 10cm deep.
For other beds the layer is about
5cm. Different studies have shown
that adding a mulch to garden beds
can prevent between 50% and 70%
evaporation. Adding a mulch layer to
your beds improves water infiltration,
reduces weeds and reduces the need
for regular watering.

2. Make compost and invest in the next
season: Whatever leaves are left over,
add them to your compost heap.
In as little as six months you could
have wonderful free compost. When
making the compost, remember that At this time of the year, the evaporation
it requires moisture (so wet the dry rate decreases quite significantly. This
leaves, even using some recycled means we can all reduce the amount of
bath or kitchen water), air (turning watering in our gardens. In colder seasons
it every six to nine weeks helps) and you should not be watering your garden
warmth (either full or partial sunlight more than once every four to five weeks,
is required). Through careful planning except for vegetable gardens and potted
you could have several different plants. Hopefully those residents who feel
compost heaps in different stages they need to water their gardens every few
of readiness to use in your garden or days will take heed, try some leaf mulch
vegetable patch. Adding compost to and reduce watering.
your soil feeds your plants, improves
soil texture and improves soil water Don’t delay! Start planning which areas of
holding capacity. your garden to mulch, put your ideas into
action and change your watering schedule.
LSA
www. randwater.co.za

Landscape SA • Issue 102 2021 11