Released on = July 2, 2007, 6:47 am

Press Release Author = International Realtors

Industry = Real Estate

Press Release Summary = How to create a water-wise indigenous garden for your new home.


Press Release Body = Cape Town, South Africa - 2 July 2007 - When purchasing a new
house the first thing we tend to do is look for ways to convert a house into our
home and while the interior is definitely a prioroty, the exterior is number one on
the list. Your home and garden must shout the words "Welcome Home" after a long day
at the office and echo your family's personalities and values.

Unfortunately, over the past few years this has been a difficult task for those with
green fingers due to the water shortages. Our well kept lawns have found
chameleon-like characteristics and change colour with the seasons, from brown to
more brown.

So what is the Solution? Pauline Marsden International Realtors have found the
answer! (For more answers to FAQ visit http://www.internationalrealtors.co.za)
David Davidson and Raymond Hudson recently added another medal to their collection
for their wonderful indigenous garden display at the Chelsea Flower Show. (For the
people who would like to catch a glimpse of this garden display, it is being
reconstructed at Lourensford Estate, Somerset West from 24 October to 28 October
2007.) They used water-wise indigenous plants to create an attractive display that
you could recreate in your own garden.

Pauline Marsden International Realtors reminds house owners that a lovely garden
adds value to your property and water-wise gardens are also lower maintenance than
normal gardens.

Below are 8 tips you should consider when designing your garden:

1. Grow water-wise plants - generally the best suited plants are those indigenous to
the area, as they seldom need additional watering.
2. Group plants according to their water needs - this avoids wasting water on plants
that don't need it.
3. Consider the quality and type of your lawn. Lawns guzzle water, so consider
reducing your lawn area. At least use tougher, low-water lawn types such as Buffalo
(coastal areas) or Kweek (inland) rather than Kikuyu.
4. Maintain your garden - remove unwanted plants, plant more perennials than summer
annuals, as they have deeper root systems and so need less watering.
5. Improve the soil and mulch. Soil water-holding capacity is improved by higher
organic matter content. Mulching (covering the soil with a thick layer of bark,
compost, straw etc) keeps the soil much more moist.
6. Plant in the right season - For winter rainfall areas this is in autumn and early
winter so the plants have a chance to develop their root systems before the dry
season. In summer rainfall areas it is spring and early summer for the same reason.
7. Water correctly - avoid watering during the heat of the day or in windy conditions.
8. The best irrigation system is drip irrigation - it uses 25% of water used by
normal irrigation systems with the same effect, and can even be placed under lawns.

Pauline Marsden International Realtors have recently relocated to Ground floor,
Seven Miles South (corner of Main Rd & Old Stanhope Roads) Claremont in Cape Town
where they hope to continue providing the very best service to their clients.

Contact Pauline Marsden International Realtors for more property tips or for
information on property in South Africa. Direct line: 021 671 4309 Email:
admin@paulinemarsden.co.za . Other helpful information regarding this press release
can be found at: http://www.internationalrealtors.co.za





Web Site = http://www.internationalrealtors.co.za

Contact Details = For More Information Contact:
International Realtors
Tel: 021 556 9009
Email: irho@mweb.co.za
Web: http://www.internationalrealtors.co.za