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Step 1 - Soil Preparation
Before you begin to plant, be
sure to prepare the soil to provide nutrients and moisture in
order for the plants to thrive.
* Find out what type of soil
you have and add appropriate organic materials, such as compost,
peat moss, or manure.
* Mix compost or other organic material into the top 30 centimetres
of soil.
Step 2 - Plant Choice
Choose drought resistant plants
to lower maintenance and maximize water savings.
* Group plants according to their
water requirements.
* Use grass only for well traveled areas or as a backdrop for
flower beds.
* Vegetables require more water, therefore it is essential to
use water efficient irrigation techniques.
* When planning your garden, pay attention to plant height, and
to the season and colour of bloom.
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Step 3 - Mulch
Mulch is a soil cover that helps
to control erosion, suppress weeds, retain moisture, moderate
soil temperature and reduce disease transmission. Bark, wood
chips, sawdust, compost, grass clippings, or crushed rock can
all be used as mulch material.
* Spread the mulch of your choice
in a layer about 10 cm deep over the surface area of the garden.
* Mulches of different colours and textures can enhance the appearance
of your garden. |
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Step 4 - Irrigation
Proper irrigation techniques
ensure that your garden receives adequate water while keeping
in mind water efficiency.
Use soaker hoses or a drip irrigation
system instead of sprinklers to reduce the amount of water lost
to evaporation. It takes approximately one hour for a rose bush,
and up to four hours for a mature tree.
* Always take into account the
amount of rain your garden has received before watering it. Leave
a measuring container out in hte garden to help assess how much
rain falls each week.
* If watering is necessary, do it early in the morning.
* Avoid watering in the afternoon when water can be wasted to
evaporation, and at night, during cool, mosit conditions, which
create an ideal environment for lawn disease to develop.
* Rain water collected in a barrel for garden use is an excellent
way to be water efficient.
Reduce the amount of asphalt
or concrete around the garden to decrease run off and allow rain
to soak into the ground. |
