The Sunday News
Tawonga Ngoma
GARDENING is all about optimal utilisation of confined garden spaces. With the use of a few ornaments and water features it can be a great creative way to create the illusion of a large and yet manageable garden. Most people plan the decoration of their rooms around a focal point, the same focal point is just as vital in a patio, adding interest and meaning even to a small garden.
This focal point may be more than a piece of garden furniture, a plant or a tree. But for real impact a garden urn or a piece of sculptures and African ornaments and pottery give untold pleasure to the garden lover, and an amazing backdrop. Even in a confined space a pool is feasible.
Two miniature ponds connected by a stream will not take up much space and is a practical proposition for beautifying limited spaces and making them feel luxuriously spacious. All too often a newly-laid lawn is allowed to degenerate. In some respects lawn is like a car — with regular service and maintenance you can keep it in good condition and avoid having to take drastic and remedial action. Simply mowing a lawn is not enough.
Yearly feeding, liming, watering and aerating are all necessary if you want to keep it in this gorgeous and perfectly manicured condition.
Many a plant in the botanical world has its beautiful flowers, perfume and shape, but so often the flowering period is limited. This can be an advantage since, like the seasons, one looks forward to these times. With a little care and attention, all plants can become strong, healthy-looking, bushes with attractive blooms. A hedge is merely a line of plants which respond to being clipped into a certain shape.
The most commonly grown in Bulawayo is the duranta. There is no need to be too conventional though hibiscus, cypress, pyracantha and privet have proved to be effective and meet most requirements, succeeding over a wide range of soils.
To avoid a sense of overcrowding separating flowers and hedges with winding connecting narrow path ways of either grass, pavers or gardening ash and gravel make for a beautiful scenery especially for beautifying outdoor garden.
