Online Reporter
Andrew Mangwarara
BULAWAYO is home to many beautiful gardens.
I recently visited Mrs Yolanda Ngulube’s residence in the low-density suburb of Famona and discovered that she has made an effort to beautify her space to modern-day standards, incorporating many drought-tolerant plants.
Some parts of Zimbabwe are characterised by minimum rainfall amounting to about 250mm per annum. This means water is a scarce resource. When one thinks of landscaping one’s space, one should choose the right type of plants; that is, those that are indigenous to the region.
Drought-tolerant plants such as aloes, cacti, acacia tree species and ground covers of a succulent nature are ideal for this region. When landscaping in dry areas, do not be overly ambitious by selecting plants with shallow roots. Instead, go for those with deep percolating roots.
Maximise on water conservation methods. These include rainwater harvesting, use of mulch to conserve moisture, deeper watering, early morning watering and drip irrigation.
Downsize the size of your garden. In doing so, pick the most valuable plants and discard the rest. The undesired plants can be used as mulch or as material for a compost.
Time your planting wisely. Avoid planting in very hot weather; instead, work in the mornings and evenings.
Again, avoid applying fertiliser in the heat of the day. Instead, try late evenings or early mornings, with some watering afterwards. It is always better to apply fertiliser after some rain shower.
Lawns use up most of the water available, so losing them is the way to go; replace them with a vibrant groundcover such as aptenia cordifolia.
Landscaping in dry regions, as we have noted above, should be done using indigenous drought-tolerant plants. If your garden is in dire straits, reduce the number of plants by choosing your best specimens.
Fill the gaps with stone or pine bark mulch. Incorporating pots into your space can enhance the aesthetics of your garden and, at the same time, reduce the water needs of your plants.
Using pots is an easier way of growing plants without the need of constant watering. You can even add mulch to the pots, further conserving the precious liquid.
Finally, you can create a microclimate of your choice using shade. A shade garden is much easier to manage since it is always sheltered from the heavy rays of the sun. Using shade cloth or adding fast-growing trees will quickly create a cool garden.
Mrs Ngulube’s garden is a shining example of an oasis in a dry environment!
If you would like to be featured in our green-up campaign, contact us on the number above. Feedback: ataurai@gmail.com or sundaymail@zimpapers.co.zw
