Page 28 - Waterfall_Issue 3_March_2022

Waterfall News

OVERWATERING

YOUR GARDEN

Emile Bolton, STM Landscaping Project Manager at Waterfall,

shares his tips to manage excess water in your garden.
G auteng residents would

have noticed more
frequent rainfalls since
September 2021. During
this time, we have recorded
over 919mm of rain, which is
already 169mm more than our
annual rainfall average, and
we still have two more months
of rain in the season ahead.

Rain is great, especially for
growing plants, but too much
rain can ruin a garden.

Soil gets saturated with water,
whereafter it pools, creating
surface moisture on plants
and washing away seeds.
Weeds grow at a rampant
Emile Bolton of STM Landscaping pace, and you will likely have
poor production or stunted
growth after too much rain.

Excessive showers can ruin plant
roots, with the result that plant
growth is affected. This is because
the water pushes out the soil’s
oxygen, which plants need to
survive. Deep roots may be
affected first, but shallow roots
will also be affected if wet weather
continues, and there is not enough This picture on the left
dry time between rain showers. illustrates waterlogged
Kikuyu, where the leaves
ROOT ROT turn yellow. This is also
This picture on the left illustrates known as Chlorosis.
the very popular Agapanthus
plant that is starting to show When plants have
signs of root rot. You will notice Chlorosis, the plants’
that the tips of the leaves show roots are starved of
signs of stress, as they are the oxygen due to too much
furthest points from the roots; the water. You will always
tips of the leaves will also show notice that the leaf tips turn yellow, a clear sign of Chlorosis
similar signs in times of drought. (saturated soil, lack of sun and leached of minerals).

26 Waterfall Issue 3 2022