TIPS FROM RAND WATER’S WATERWISE CAMPAIGN

Water dry spots individually, and avoid wasting water by watering a large area if the intention is just to water a single rose or a small section of grass. Water if the soil in the root zone feels dry and crumbly, and if it looks as though the plant is starting to wilt. Watering in the late evening and early morning is best. Watering in the day results in loss of water through evaporation. Lawns are best watered in the mornings to help prevent disease. Sprinklers with coarse low spray are best. Fine high-pressure systems lose water when the droplets atomise into the atmosphere. Make sure your selection of irrigation nozzle suits your pressure. Water trees individually, giving them a deep drink but less often. Water slowly to prevent runoff but long enough to penetrate the root zone. By over-watering, water penetrates beyond the reach of the roots, and excess water will run off and be wasted. Check water connections for leaks. Switch off irrigation before puddling starts. Flowers and vegetables need short, frequent watering, while shrubs and trees need deeper but less frequent watering. Never water paving. Use a broom to sweep hard surfaces, not a hose. Use a lance for reaching hanging baskets and the back of beds. Avoid spraying in windy conditions. Use a watering can for window box plants, using the point to get to each plant individually. Don’t use the rose as this wastes water. Cut down on high nitrogenbased fertilisers. Rather use fertilisers with high ratios of potassium and phosphorus. This will encourage plant cell walls to thicken, enabling them to cope better in drought conditions. In drought, leave the lawn and annuals till last, and save the prized older plants which are not easily replaced.