Page 17 - Landscapeeissue132(2)

PROJECT

planting grids and perennials for re-use
were bagged as far as possible for storage
on site. Splits were done according to plant
maturity before bagging.
Formal hedges were filled in as necessary
with the same plant species to achieve
re-instatement of existing hedges. New
hedges were added with plant species as
per the design, for additional formality.
Mow edges were installed as the temple
architecture with its face-brick lines
required perfect mow edge levels and
brick work. Keith Nevin of Hard Landscape Kikuyu lawn was removed and replaced with All Seasons Evergreen
Enterprises assisted with this aspect of the
work.

Irrigation
Earth Ethics, a sub-contractor to Bertha
Wium Landscape Development, installed
a Hunter Hydrawise controller; this is a
new technology smart controller that links
with the closest weather station and when
it rains, calculates the amount of rain and
adjusts the programme accordingly. The
entire garden is fitted with Hunter MP
rotator nozzles which give a proven 30%
water saving based on the water application
method to minimise run-off.
The main water source on the site is from
a borehole, and all irrigation installations
were carried out according to LIA/SABI
installation guidelines and regulations.
Maintenance
Hedge cutting under the year’s maintenance The upgraded garden and bench provide a sense of serenity for congregants, a requirement of the upgrade
period awarded to Bertha Wium Landscape
Development was undertaken to re-
establish perfect hedging for strong focal
elements and lines. It also sets off informal
planting mixes and colour combinations.
Colour replacements are undertaken every
three months.
Lawn cutting is done in line formations to
achieve block cut patterns and wild grasses
are cut back to stimulate growth for the
new growing season.

Grounds’ supervisor
Michael Strydom is employed as the Hedging provides strong focal elements and lines
grounds’ supervisor/horticulturist for the
church in South Africa; his responsibilities
include the Durban and Johannesburg
temples.
He states that the 38 year old garden
made use of 1980s style plant material
such as Callistemon, Philodendron,
Coprosma, Cordyline and Cyathea. With
the Johannesburg temple having a very
unique aspect to it, namely the protruding
mountain rock, the old-style garden hid
this from view. “Since informal indigenous
gardens are really appealing to me, Johan
was kind enough to design the bed
accordingly and the new one is now a
natural extension of the rock outcrop. It’s
as if, when you descend the mountain, you
encounter the grassy hills of the ’berg,” he
explains.
He hopes that the gardens can soon Front garden at the main
start the migration across to ones that can entrance to the church, with
tolerate changing climatic conditions. n neat and formal hedges

Check us out www.salandscape.co.za Landscape SA • Issue 132 2023 15