44 Supplement to SA Gardening Directory 2006/7

Garden maintenanceConserving Water, Conserving the Enrironment

RAND WATER

Agarden needs to be taken goodcare of. Like all living things a

garden requires water, needs to be fedand protected from diseases. Althoughsome people would love to attend totheir gardens, they just do not have thetime to do so. Summer provides a greatentrepreneurial opportunity becausepeople want beautiful gardens but areunable to do the maintenancethemselves.

If your service is satisfactory, thesecustomers will want to use you again.This way, you will build a relationshipwith your customer and advertising willbe done through word of mouth.

To set up your own gardenmaintenance service, you will need thecorrect tools, such as a lawnmower, rake,spade, fork, trowel and shears.

Garden maintenance Here are a few tips on how to maintain agarden and make money looking aftersomeone else's garden: • Water: It's important to know how

much water a garden needs, becausedifferent plants require differentamounts of water. Try to water thegarden in the early mornings or lateafternoon as this saves water due toless evaporation.

Plants that are prone to fungal

diseases, such as downy mildew onroses, are best watered in the morning,so that the leaves dry out quickly anddo not give the fungus time to grow.

• Mulch: Mulch helps to retain moisturein the soil by reducing water lost toevaporation. It also helps to preventweed growth, supplies your plant withnutrients, and keeps the soil cool insummer and warm in winter. Rathermulch garden beds than dig them over,as digging over leads to a crustformation on the soil surface, whichprevents water from soaking in.

Start your owngarden serviceYou can make money by setting up your own gardenmaintenance service

Water plants with a watering can in the earlymornings and late afternoons. (Pic: Shirley-Carr)

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Conserving Water, Conserving the Enrironment

RAND WATER

• Fertiliser: You can use organic(natural) fertilisers or chemical fertilisers.An example of an organic fertiliser iscomposted cow manure. You can alsouse compost, leaf mould ordecomposed leaves.

• Pruning: Many plants, such as roses,need to be cut (pruned) at certaintimes of the year. Pruning is good foryour plants' growth as it gets rid ofdiseased wood and unwanted growth.It also promotes good health andprolongs a plant's life. You can usesecateurs or a knife to prune yourplants. Make sure it is sharp anddisinfected so that it doesn't infect yourplants with disease. Clean thesecateurs or knife with a solution ofbleach and water in between pruningeach plant to avoid spreadingdiseases from one plant to the next.

• Annuals: These are great to include inthe garden as they don't cost a lot ofmoney, they grow fast and come inbeautiful colours when planted inflowerbeds. Group annuals together asthey usually need a lot of water, andwater them separately from the rest ofthe garden to save water.

• Weeding: Weeds compete with otherplants for water and nutrients, and mustbe removed from the garden to keepthe plants healthy and the garden neat.

All about mulchMulch is any substance that can beplaced on the surface of the soilaround plants in order to keepmoisture in the soil. There are twotypes of mulches:• Organic mulches come from plant

and animal sources and are thebest sort of mulch as they enrich thesoil. For example compost, autumnleaves and grass cuttings. Leavegrass cuttings to dry out beforesprinkling a thin layer onto the bedas mulch – if the grass is too wet, itcan create a slimy clump. It is alsobest to leave autumn leaves todecompose a bit before using them.

• Inorganic mulches do not breakdown and enrich the soil, but helpkeep moisture in the soil. Examplesare pebbles and gravel.

Mulch garden beds to keep moisture in the soil. (Pic: Otto)

Include bright annuals in the garden.

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46 Supplement to SA Gardening Directory 2006/7

Garden maintenanceConserving Water, Conserving the Enrironment

RAND WATER

Lawn careLawns require a great deal of time andmaintenance – use this as an opportunityto establish yourself as a regular gardenservice for your customers. Have yourlawnmower serviced regularly - look outfor pre-season offers on repairs and newdeals at service dealers in your area. Alightweight, compact design is the bestchoice.

Mowing is the most vital part ofmaintaining a lawn and should be donecorrectly in order to achieve the desiredeffect. The way you mow the lawn willadd to its appearance and health. Followthese tips for successful mowing:

• Grass should not be mowed too shortas it results in grass being scorched

• Your lawnmower's blades should bekept sharp at all times throughout themowing season. Remember to keepnumerous spare sharp blades at hand.

• Check the mower's oil regularly duringmowing season.

• Always drain the petrol and use newfuel.

• Wet grass should not be mowed. • Keep the lawnmower away from the

pavement and keep children and petsaway from the yard while mowing.

• Wear appropriate clothing, especiallyshoes, when mowing the lawn.

To set up your own garden maintenance service, you will need the correct tools, such as alawnmower, rake, spade, fork, trowel and shears. (Pic: Otto)

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Conserving Water, Conserving the Enrironment

RAND WATER

Water wise lawn tips• Mow frequently but lightly in hot, dry

weather. If the grass is cut too short,it will be exposed to scorching.

• To conserve water, cut grass at ahigher level than usual. Longer grassblades result in deeper roots, andthus more drought tolerance. Trimkikuyu to a height of 4-6cm. Finergrasses (Cynodon spp.) can be cut3-4cm above the ground, whereascool season evergreen grasses(Shade-Over/All Seasons Evergreen)should be trimmed 5-7cm above theground.

• Watering deeply encourages deeproot growth, which in turn makes the lawn more drought resistant. So water deeply and less often.

• Overwatering does as much harm astoo little. It washes nutrients out of thesoil and causes shallow root growth.Water lawns only when they needit, and then water deeply. There aretwo ways of telling when a lawnneeds water. Firstly, if the grass bladesdo not spring back two minutes afterbeing walked on, and secondly, ifthey take on a subtle bluish tinge.

• Shape the lawn into a shallowsaucer (or a series of saucer-shapedareas) in order to retain the rainwater from a heavy downpour onthe water-thirsty lawn area.

• Consider reducing the lawn area,and replacing it with Water Wiseground covers, paving stones, barkchips or ground covers. Ask yourcustomer whether the existing lawnarea really is essential, taking intoaccount their lifestyle.

To conserve water, cut grass at a higher level thanusual as longer grass blades result in deeper roots,and thus more drought tolerance. (Pic: Otto)

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