Episode: # 10 09/06/07
Presenter: Kim Syrus

Kim often gets asked, is there room for flowering annuals in a water smart garden? His answer is always yes you certainly can grow them BUT you need to make some simple changes to the way they are planted.

Forget the scattered planting method. Putting a seedling here or there in the garden makes watering difficult, particularly if you are mixing them with different water use plants. The best way to plant flowering annuals is in blocks. To working out the size of the block, all you will need is a watering can

Fill the watering can it so it is comfortable to carry and water up the area you want to plant. Apply, as if you were watering planted seedlings. Once it is emptied, you have worked out the size of your first block. You can repeat this to work out your next block if you have the room.

Using a watering can to work out your planting design, means you can water the area quickly, without any wastage and importantly, if restrictions increase, then you can easily keep this patch growing with one of these.

Dig over the marked area, breaking up any large sods and getting rid of any weeds and inorganic finds (brick). Clay soil just loves gypsum so apply at a rate of around 1 kilogram per square metre. Gypsum really helps open up the ground making it easier for water and plant roots to penetrate.

Next is organic matter and plenty of it. If you have sandy soil, then add as much of it as possible. Aged manure, compost or worm casting will seriously improve your soil structure. Work it into the ground so it mixes evenly with the soil.

Organic matter acts like a sponge, filling with water and holding it for the plant roots to use. It also stops valuable fertilizer from being washed away and wasted.

Add some hydrated water crystals and begin putting in the seedlings. Planting in groups creates a fantastic colour effect. Mixing larger growing plants in with smaller growers helps shade the ground and other plants - reducing soil evaporation.

Once you have finished planting, spread a layer of mulch around and water in using a seaweed extract with just the right amount of water. It is one simple way of keeping annual colour in your water smart garden.

EXTRA
Seedlings are shallow rooted and this can cause real issues for them if the ground dries out. So the first thing to do is make sure your ground is water friendly, soaking up and holding moisture.

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