Especially for the dreaded El Niño? Preparation is everything.
By Vanessa, Monaghan’s landscaping expert
Spring arrives in the first week of September, and if recent seasons are anything to go by, we may feel as though we have gone straight from winter into summer!
We are hoping for those spectacular Highveld thunderstorms and some glorious summer green, but hotter and drier conditions are always a possibility. The answer isn't simply to turn the irrigation up to “Niagara Falls”!
The principles in the Monaghan Farm Landscape Regulations remain as relevant as ever.
Different plants have different water needs. Lawns, vegetable gardens, ornamental areas and water-wise planting should not all be treated the same.
Water should follow the plant — not the other way around.
A quick daily sprinkle can encourage shallow roots. Deep watering encourages roots to move further into the soil, helping plants cope better with heat and drought.
If the soil is bone dry just below the surface a day or two after watering, your garden may be getting a drink rather than a proper meal!
Healthy soil is one of your garden's best defences against summer stress.
Good-quality compost is the starting point. Depending on your soil, useful additions can include:
Provides minerals and trace elements.
Can help retain moisture and nutrients and support beneficial soil microorganisms.
Can help hold water and nutrients in the root zone.
If fertilising is necessary, choose a slow-release fertiliser rather than a quick-release product.
The aim is not to push plants into rapid, lush new growth just before the heat arrives. Soft new growth can be more vulnerable to heat and drought stress.
Slow-release fertiliser provides nutrients gradually, encouraging steady, balanced growth and stronger plants.
Feed the soil. Build strong roots. Hold onto water. Don't force growth just before the heat arrives.
You don't need a chemistry degree or a tractor!
Improve organic matter, soil structure and biological activity.
Basalt, biochar and zeolite can help improve soil fertility and water retention.
Use only where needed and according to the manufacturer's recommendations.
Finish with a good layer of organic mulch to keep the soil cooler and slow evaporation.
Remember: more is not necessarily better. Soil varies considerably across Monaghan, so avoid a one-size-fits-all approach.
If you're unsure what your soil needs, have it assessed before adding large quantities of amendments or fertiliser.
Before summer arrives, walk around your garden while the irrigation is running.
Check for:
Automatic doesn't mean set-and-forget — especially when the Highveld weather has a mind of its own!
If you receive 30 mm of rain overnight, your irrigation system doesn't need to politely follow up the next morning with another 20 mm.
A good layer of organic mulch keeps the soil cooler, slows evaporation and protects the root zone.
Think of it as sunscreen for your soil — and thankfully, you don't have to remember to reapply it every two hours!
Newly planted trees are particularly vulnerable during hot, dry periods.
Check their irrigation, mulch and soil moisture before summer arrives. Give them slow, deep watering rather than frequent surface sprinkling.
Established trees are different. Their mature root systems may already be accessing moisture much deeper in the soil.
The Highveld can deliver enormous amounts of rain in a very short time.
Our challenge is to slow it down and keep it in the landscape.
Good soil, mulch, swales, rain gardens, permeable surfaces and rainwater tanks can all help turn a spectacular thunderstorm into a useful water resource.
The aim isn't to have the greenest garden in the neighbourhood.
It's to have a healthy, resilient garden that uses water intelligently.
So, before summer arrives:
I hope these tips help you prepare your garden for the season ahead — and help all of us make the most of whatever the Highveld summer brings our way.
Protected and preserved, forever
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