Article and photos by Andrea Durrheim
A
lthough most of us garden by sheer guesswork,
or at least, educated
guesswork, technology
can help us to make the right plant
choices, especially when we’re looking at big investments such as windbreaks or hedging plants. There are
low-tech alternatives, such as looking at what thrives on your neighbours’ properties or making observations on the way indigenous plants
grow in the wild in your area, but
knowing a few basics such as soil pH
and EC (electro-conductivity, a measurement of salts in the soil) can be a
help.
Ericas usually want acid soils with
low EC
Zantedeschia pink: lots of moisture
but good drainage
Should you have your soil tested?
Lobelia valida needs alkaline
soil
The so-called ‘soil testing kits’ you
can pick up at garden centres are
notoriously inaccurate. I’ve seen
them reading a scary pH of 8 for a
soil I knew was acidic, so save yourself some money and don’t even
bother. A proper pH / EC meter, costs
thousands, but if you happen to
have one, go ahead and test your
garden soil. However, most of us
won’t have an expensive piece of
equipment like that just lying
around.
Lab reports will give you the most
details, and if you’ve tested your soil
for the sake of crop production,
these figures will come in handy, but
in general, I wouldn’t recommend
Acacia karoo: does best along
rivers