The Gardening Club met for the last time in 2017 on 2 November. John Sauer, the well known Waterwise Warrior and wholesale farmer of succulents came to address us and brought some wonderful specimens for sale. When asked for his profile, John told me his only profile was his boep!
However, he has a Succulents garden at Garden World, was on Top Billing during August and has won the Rand Water Board’s waterwise garden of the year award.
South Africa is a water scarce country, with virtually no infrastructure upgrades by our government and we are living in a fool’s paradise if we do not recognise this and do something to save water. With South Africa’s rapidly growing population over the last 15 to 20 years, our water systems are under huge pressure. The delivery of water to boreholes on farms is providing insufficient water compared to 5 years ago.
In Santa Monica USA a 9 year water useage comparison model was completed – 100m2 of normal grassed and planted garden, next to 100m2 of waterwise garden using aloes and succulents… The normal garden used 3.6 million litres of water and the waterwise garden used 460 000 litres of water over the same period – a saving of 80% of water!
Most of South Africa’s succulents were to be found in the Karoo, but scavengers over the years have virtually wiped them out. Succulents like lime which is found in the Karoo. Aloes can survive for years with no water, Cycads are able to store water.
Try starting a 5 to 10m2 rockery, planting your succulents in a mix of 30 – 40% riversand or silica to potting soil and mix in coconut peat, to be found at nurseries. It can be great fun to propagate succulents and swap with neighbours or members of the Gardening Club. Children will love the fun of developing their own small succulents containers or gardens. Succulents need 2 – 3 hours of direct sunlight per day and like a thorough drenching once a week. Feeding can be as simple as a mister of Multifeed though there are special slow release fertilisers for succulents.
Please contact Francesca for any Property Buying, Selling or Leasing requirements you may have.
Residential Property, Fourways Gardens, Real Estate Agent