African Wildlife & Environment Issue 80

HYDROZONING

Why is it important to hydrozone in landscapes and gardens?Hydrozoning saveswater and money. It improves the landscape design, mimics natural plant communities, minimises the impact on the surrounding natural environment, and simplifies maintenance Hydrozoning in landscapes

The concept of hydrozones (hydrostations) is based on the theory that the correct plants should be planted in shade, semi shade or sun depending on plant requirements, as defined by theWater Use Classification of Landscape Species (WUCOLS), developed by the University of California. TheLandscapeIrrigationModelSouthAfrica(LIMSA),developed by Dr Leslie Hoy, is consistent with the WUCOLS model and focuses on individual assessment of each hydrozone within a landscape. Hydrozoning, in this context, is defined as: • A grouping or bed of plants, • Plants with the same water (hydrozone) requirements, • Plants arewateredwith the same correct amount of water, • Plants are positioned correctly in the landscape, • Each hydrozone has it’s own control valve, and their own specific irrigation system.

The intentionof thismodel is toallow for amoreaccuratewater use on any landscape site to be determined. This is particularly important for sites that will rely on any form of supplementary

irrigation over and above rainfall of the area where the landscape is located. This will also apply to sites that require additional watering beyond the initial establishment period.

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61 | African Wildlife & Environment | Issue 80 (2021)