The Zimbabwean Gardener Issue 12 Autumn 2015 High res | Page 27

What to do Start preparing for the dry season With the rains coming to an end, the likelihood of water shortages should be on all of our minds. As we look at our gardens and plan ahead for the coming dry season, do not be despondent about your garden going dry, as you can keep it looking lush and beautiful with little or no water by doing the following: Zoning your plants Plant things with similar water requirements together, and restrict thirsty annuals to pots or areas that can be watered with grey water. Plant succulents and aloes together to use less water Not enough water to keep your lawn green through the dry season? Collect indigenous grass seed from the bush in April/ May and sow a meadow in some areas of your garden. Simply scatter wild grass and flower seed on existing grass or bare ground that has been loosened with a rake, scatter over with a fine layer of river sand and let nature do its trick in spring. Soil conditioning Add more organic matter (compost) to your soil all year round to increase water retention. The more compost you add to your soil, the less watering you will need to do. Bare soil is your enemy Cover all bare soil with mulch or water-wise ground covers, such as Hen and Chicken grass, Plectranthus varieties and colourful succulents. Go Organic Preserve earthworms, beneficial soil fungi and other organisms, that all play an important role in keeping the soil moist and aerated, which makes nutrients available to plants and decreases the incidence of disease. Healthy plants need less water. Too much to remember? The Grow-It-Yourself Gardening Calendar is available in leading nurseries now, with all the reminders and tips you need to keep your garden looking its best all year round. Lindsay [email protected] 0772 573 489 Robyn [email protected] 0778 025 742 www.thegardenclub.co.zw PLECTRANTHUS