The Zimbabwean Gardener Issue 1 Winter 2012 | Page 25

Water wise Winter wise How and when to water your plants When watering plants, the aim is to get water to their roots, so wet the ground above the roots and avoid using sprays that waste most of the water on the leaves. Drip irrigation is an effective way of watering, as these systems are more efficient at delivering water where it is needed than spray systems; they are also easy and cheap to install. If you are interested in drip irrigation, there are several outlets in Harare which sell the drip irrigation system. When watering bushes and fruit trees, make a small basin around the base, as this will keep the water from running off. The best time of day to water the garden in winter is in the morning, as this gives the soil enough time to warm up before nightfall to prevent frost. Don’t water at midday, as the water will be lost to evaporation. Grey water What is grey water? Grey water is the wastewater from our kitchen sinks, washing machines, laundry tubs, hand basins, the shower and bath. Grey water is a great way for supplementing garden water, however it does need to be managed carefully and you need to be selective over which grey water to use and where. Overseas, they have gone to all lengths to use grey water from attaching the water outlets to a drip irrigation system in the garden. Here are a few simple ways to use grey water: • Leave the bathwater in or put a bucket in the shower and use it to water pot plants or garden beds. • Attach the washing machine outlet to a hosepipe to water your lawn. • If you want to get a bit creative, attach the water outlets to a hosepipe and your garden will get watered every time you pull a plug out. However, there are a few simple cautionary measures when using grey water: • Never use grey water that has faecal contamination, for example, wastewater produced from washing nappies. • Do not use kitchen wastewater (including dishwashers) - it contains highly concentrated food wastes and chemicals that are not readily broken down by soil organisms. • Not all plants like grey water, so keep an eye on your plants and if they are not looking good, stop using it. Mulch Mulch your beds in winter as not only does this act as a great insulator by keeping the heat in to prevent frost, but it also keeps the moisture in and stops evaporation by up to 70%. Exposed soil increases evaporation so wherever possible plant ground covers that will act as a mulch. Agapanthus Fertiliser Don’t use synthetic fertilisers in winter as it will encourage your plants to grow quickly which means that they will need water – wait for the wetter months. However, using compost is a good alternative as it will increase water retention, feed your plants and encourage earthworms. 25