Water-wise gardening tips for South Africa

Because gardens are often so water-intensive, it is important to look at the principles of water-wise gardening. Water-wise gardens are also lower maintenance than normal gardens.

The following tips are taken from Water-wise gardening (Department of Water Affairs and Forestry and National Botanical Institute, 1998).

• Grow water-wise plants – generally the best suited plants are those indigenous to the area, as they seldom need additional watering.

• Group plants according to their water needs – this avoids wasting water on plants that don’t need it.

• Consider the quality and type of your lawn. Lawns guzzle water, so consider reducing your lawn area. At least use tougher, low-water lawn types such as Buffalo (coastal areas) or Kweek (inland) rather than Kikuyu.

• Maintain your garden – remove unwanted plants, plant more perennials than summer annuals, as they have deeper root systems and so need less watering.

• Improve the soil and mulch. Soil water-holding capacity is improved by higher organic matter content. Mulching (covering the soil with a thick layer of bark, compost, straw etc) keeps the soil much more moist.

•  Plant in the right season – For winter rainfall areas this is in autumn and early winter so the plants have a chance to develop their root systems before the dry season. In summer rainfall areas it is spring and early summer for the same reason.

• Water correctly – avoid watering during the heat of the day or in windy conditions.

• The best irrigation system is drip irrigation – it uses 25% of water used by normal irrigation systems with the same effect, and can even be placed under lawns.

Source: Biophile Magazine (By DWAF & NBI)

Complementing water-wise gardening with rainwater harvesting for irrigation saves money and water as well as reducing stormwater run-off (that picks up pollutants on streets and ultimately ends up in our water water ways).  Rain gardens are another sustainable and water-wise method of making a garden to be proud of.  When choosing rain water tanks, be sure to select a brand that offers a guarantee and that manufacture water tanks with a food-grade lining; in South Africa we recommend tanks made by JOJO Tanks.  Click on the links below to view the various JoJo tanks products available.

JoJo Tanks South Africa offer a wide range of plastic water tanks and chemical tanks to suit every household, business or agricultural need, including septic tanks, silo tanks and silo tank stands.  See JoJo Tanks VERTICAL TANKS, HORIZONTAL TANKS (transporter tanks), STEEL TANK STANDS and OTHER JOJO PRODUCTS. Also see JoJo Tanks’ NEW 6000 LITRE UNDERGROUND TANKS. Also see our FAQ and WATER TANK PRICES.

JoJo’s superior polyethylene plastic water tanks and steel water tank stands make JoJo Tanks the leaders in plastic water tank technology and the quality, affordability and guarantee on these water tanks make JoJo products the best choice in South Africa.  JoJo’s water tanks and chemical tanks come standard with a number of features that are often lacking on cheaper/inferior plastic tanks made by other companies in South Africa.

We are authorised JoJo Tanks dealers in South Africa and dispatch orders directly from JoJo Tank depots to save on transport costs. Full range of JoJo Tanks products and JoJo water tanks for sale.  CONTACT US for a quote on the right JoJo water tank or other JoJo product for you.  Special discounts are available on multiple orders of chemical tanks and water tanks and to our commercial and government customers.

We supply and despatch orders directly from JoJo Tanks depots around South Africa – saving time and money.

SPECIAL ON MULTIPLE ORDERS OF 10000 LITRE JOJO WATER TANKS…CONTACT US FOR A FREE QUOTE!

(15000 litre and 20000 litre JoJo vertical water tanks also available on order)