Home/Garden Maintenance

Save water and conserve resources by repairing leaking taps. A single dripping tap can waste about one litre of water every 10 minutes. Leaking or overflowing taps, as well as faulty ones, are signs of potential issues. It is advisable to call a plumber to address the problem before it worsens.

Ensure that all family members know the location of the indoor or main water shut-off valve in case of a leak or flood. It is typically found under the sink, in the hallway, bathroom, or garage. Make sure everyone knows how to turn it on and off.

Do not pour cooking oil or grease down the sink, as it can cause clogs. Allow it to cool and then dispose of it with the rest of the household waste.

Create a smart, water-friendly garden. Thoughtful garden design will reduce the amount of water and effort needed for maintenance; at the same time ensuring it remains beautiful in all weather conditions.

Improve the water retention capacity of your soil by adding organic matter such as farmyard manure or garden fertiliser. Coarse sandy soils are the least capable of retaining moisture, while clayey soils retain much more.

Choose plants that do not need or require minimal watering. Succulent plants such as lavender, plants with grey or glossy leaves, mint, sage, rosemary, geraniums, ivy, myrtle, iris, cacti, aloe, yucca, date palm, acacia, and others adapt very well and endure dry periods.

You could avoid plants that require more moisture such as astilbe, azalea, lilies, lily, primrose, crape myrtle, willow, bamboo, beech, and ragweed.

Plants compete with each other for water. Removing weeds from the garden saves water for more valuable plants.

Well-rooted, large trees and shrubs have exploratory root systems and will generally extract water from deep within the soil.

Remember: the plants with the greatest need for water are those that have been recently placed, sown or planted, and especially fruits and vegetables that are in bloom or have fast-growing edible parts.

Avoid frequent and little watering because it encourages surface root growth. Water more sparingly with more water. This makes the plants more resistant to water shortages in dry periods.

Water directly around the roots. Watering over the leaves is a waste since a large percentage evaporates. Move all plant pots and hanging baskets to the north side of the house or into the shade. Put them together in groups to retain moisture and water them thoroughly early in the day or evening.

Place plant saucers under hanging baskets while watering plants to collect falling water.

Recycle appropriate water from household uses such as bath, shower, and wash water for older plants, but avoid using it if it contains detergents or shower gels.

Store rainwater in water barrels. Rainwater is excellent for all plants.

After watering, place a protective cover of bark, compost, manure, grass, gravel or even black plastic to retain moisture.

Allow your grass to grow a little longer during dry periods. The grass will survive long periods of drought and will not wither even if it turns brown. Most types of grass are very hardy and usually turn green again when the dry season ends.