Ecoscaping encourages us to work in harmony with nature by establishing a healthy, economical and well-balanced landscape. You can create a garden that is an ecological asset this spring by considering these ideas.
Trees for posterity
Trees reduce soil erosion and slow down water run-off. They improve air quality by removing and storing carbon and releasing oxygen. They provide a habitat for wildlife and shade our homes, streets and office buildings.
Each year, three indigenous trees are chosen as National Trees of the Year. This year they are:
* Jacket-plum or bushveld cherry tree (Pappea capensis). This evergreen tree likes warm gardens where it will grow from two to eight metres in height and produce red cherry fruit, which is relished by birds.
* Bride’s bush (Pavetta spp.) which has dainty, sweetly scented flowers in midsummer.
* Common wild elder (Nuxia congesta), a winter flowering evergreen tree that can grow to 20m.
Not all the trees will be suitable for your area, but it is important to choose trees that will encourage birds and butterflies to visit your garden.
Trees for your area that are suited to small suburban gardens include: the tree wisteria (Bolusanthus speciosus), pompon tree (Dais cotinifolia), karee (Searsia lancea, previously known as Rhus lancea), white karee (Searsia pendulina, previously Rhus pendulina), lavender tree (Heteropyxis natalensis) or tree fuchsia (Halleria lucida), or forest bushwillow (Combretum kraussii).
Biodiversity
Water in the garden is a great attraction for biodiversity. Any water that runs down a gentle slope into a depression is a wonderful opportunity to create a mini wetland or pond, and a wildlife-friendly environment.
Plants suitable for growing in these low-lying places include tree ferns, arum, aristea, sedge, crinum lily, wild iris (dietes), moraea, dwarf glory bush (Dissotis canescens) and red hot pokers (kniphofia).
Steep, sloping gardens have banks that are often low in fertility, making them an ideal place for plants that do not need rich soil. Many of South Africa’s most beautiful flora will grow here, such as aloe, lion’s ear (Leonotis leonurus), Pycnostachys urticifolia, misty plume bush (Tetradenia riparia), Plumbago auriculata, protea and leucospermum. Even a slight slope is perfect for arctotis, felicia, gazania and mesembryanthemum.
Use water wisely
Store the run-off of rainwater from roofs in tanks and barrels. Sprinklers cannot always reach small plants that grow in the shadow of larger plants, and a hand-held hosepipe is often a better choice for watering. This also affords the gardener the opportunity of checking the welfare of each plant.
Group plants according to their water needs in three drop (3D) zones. Three drop plants that need regular watering are best situated around the patio or in a vegetable garden (zone 3). Two drop plants such as roses that need a weekly watering are best planted up in borders (zone 2), while one drop plants with low water needs are best placed in the perimeter areas of the garden (zone 1).
Many indigenous plants thrive in the one drop zone where they need very little water, like agapanthus, bulbine, crocosmia, scabiosa, tulbaghia and scented pelargoniums. There are also one drop, low growing shrubs with leathery, hairy or narrow leaves that are able to withstand wind, salt spray and require minimal water like artemisia, cistus, lavender, rosemary, santolina, sage and thyme.
Eco-friendly landscaping
Lay a blanket of mulch 10cm thick spread around plants to conserve moisture. Introduce wild flowers among ornamental grasses to attract butterflies, bees, insects and birds as pollinators.
Grow flowers and herbs with vegetables to increase nectar production and attract predator insects. Leave seed heads on grasses and flowers for the benefit of birds until early spring, when they can be cut back as new growth emerges.
Ecoscape your garden
* Use a rain gauge to accurately measure rain
* Install non-splash water-wise water features
* Collect rainwater off roofs and store in water tanks
*l Water the soil and root area of plants, rather than leaves
* Invest in a shredder and use this to mulch around plants
* Grow edible plants among flowers. - Daily News
* For more information, see www.lifeisagarden.co.za.