Page 22 - Landscape-Issue152

PROJECT

THE HILLS GAME RESERVE

LIFESTYLE ESTATE

View from the clubhouse pool

The Hills Game Reserve Lifestyle
Estate in Pretoria East, Gauteng, has
been maintained by the garden group

since 2022. It sits within 1200 acres of
pristine bushveld, offering residents
the opportunity to experience a private
game reserve with roaming antelope
and zebra practically on their doorstep.

or this project, the garden group received the trophy for Best Estate entrance gate area
environmental Landscape Work at the 2025 SALI Awards of
FExcellence, and also a double gold award for Landscape and Turf
Maintenance. chipped and used as mulch or burned in designated areas to
prevent regrowth;
Scope of work and strategies • Dodder: entire plants are removed and destroyed offsite to prevent
The scope of work for the garden group involves control and any chance of regrowth;
eradication of invasive species within the wildlife reserve. All • Pampas Grass and Wattle: large plants are cut down and roots are
methods must exclude the use of herbicides to protect the reserve’s managed mechanically to prevent regrowth. Chipped material
ecosystem and wildlife. may be repurposed where feasible;
The main invasive plants targeted include Pompom Weed, Silver • Kakiebos, Verbena Purple Top, Black Jacks: these are cut regularly
Bitter Apple, Bugweed, Spear Thistle, Lantana, Dodder, Pampas Grass, to prevent flowering and seed production, with debris removed or
Kakiebos, Verbena Purple Top, Wattle, Black Jacks, Zinnia, Horse left to decay depending on infestation size;
Weed, Virginia Stick, Yellow Firethorn and Jersey Cudweed. • Zinnia, Horse Weed, Virginia Stick, Yellow Firethorn, Jersey
Hand weeding is undertaken for precise removal of invasive Cudweed: plants are hand-pulled or cut, with waste disposed of
plants, and brush cutting is done regularly to suppress growth. This by composting or removal to designated disposal sites, ensuring
is particularly effective for species such as Pompom Weed when it seeds are destroyed.
is not flowering. Seasonal management targets invasive plants at These tailored strategies ensure effective control of invasive
optimal times, based on their growth cycle. This ensures the most species while protecting the biodiversity and ecological balance
effective control. of the reserve. The garden group aligns its efforts with the estate’s
Methods of disposal depend on the plant species and their growth commitment to conservation and sustainable land management.
stage:
• Pompom Weed: non-flowering plants are cut and left to decay Seasonal control
naturally; flowering plants have their seed heads carefully removed Controlling invasive plants according to the season is crucial because
and destroyed to prevent spreading; the growth cycle of each species determines the most effective
• Silver Bitter Apple, Bugweed, Lantana: removed plants are either method and timing for their management. For instance, targeting

20 Landscape SA • Issue 152 2025 Check us out www.salandscape.co.za