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ESTATE NEWS

SILVER LAKES GARDEN

COMPETITION AND GARDEN TALK

he Silver Lakes garden competition
was facilitated by the Garden
TGroup. Judging of the gardens took
place on 19 February 2020 and winners
were announced on 22 February 2020
after the garden talk that took place at
the clubhouse. The theme of the talk
was ‘Water-wise Gardening’, presented
by Adriaan du Toit from the Garden
Group. Certainly, a very informative and
interesting talk about how to save water
and use it more effectively in your garden.

Here are some water-wise tips for your
garden:
When selecting water-wise plants,
consider whether they are compatible
with your climate and rainfall pattern.
Don’t plant shrubs or trees from winter
rainfall areas in summer rainfall areas, and
vice versa. The plants do not necessarily
have to be indigenous, but certain features
contribute to water saving, for example:
A. Choice of plants
• Select plants with few leaves and
accent plants such as Pachypodium and Garden competition winner Magriet van Abo, Adriaan du Toit and Corlia Mathews.
Beaucarnia.
• Grey leaves reflect sunlight e.g.
Artemesia and Arctotis.
• Leaves with surface hairs have slower air
movement which reduces evaporation,
such as Lamb’s Ear and Helichrysum.
• Fleshy, thick leaves store water e.g.
Crassula, Aloes and Echeveria.
• Some plants' leaves curl to conserve
water e.g Acacia and Melianthus minor.
• A wax layer on the leaf surface reduces
evaporation, e.g. Kalanchoe and
Euonymous.

B. Placement of plants
• Plants with the same water needs should
be grouped and planted together.
• In a garden, only 10% of all plants
should have high water requirements.
These should preferably be planted in
containers or pots close to the house so
they can be easily watered, for example
annuals.
Anton Els from Lots of Pots

16 INTRA MUROS APRIL 2020