Manisha Sehrawat, AGM, Operations, Lion Services Ltd. (LSL)
Who is left unmoved by a perfectly groomed patch of flowering shrubs in an otherwise stark office complex? Landscaping sweetens a facility’s users experience, but indiscriminate planning of a green patch may demand inordinate amounts of water for upkeep. Manisha Sehrawat, AGM, Operations, Lion Services Ltd. (LSL) explains the secret behind water-efficient landscaping.
While we endeavour to create a picturesque design that looks natural, we prioritise maintaining a balance of form and function. All our activities are carried out in an environmentally conscious and sustainable manner. We understand that a successful landscape installation is a collaboration of ideas, imagination, expertise, and experience in horticulture. We consider the horticulture and landscaping details to keep the landscape neat that include lawn mowing, edging, seasonal landscape fertilising, pruning services, etc.
Choice of plant
When deciding what to install in the clients’ yard, we consider native and drought-resistant plants as they typically require less maintenance and little watering once grown. It is essential to understand a plant’s particular watering requirements and evapotranspiration, the amount of water evaporated from the soil that transpired through the plant’s leaves.
We determine how much water the plants need to ensure we won’t overwater them or waste water. We assist clients with plants that require a comparatively lesser amount of irrigation, including cactus, agave, sedum, desert rose, jade plant, blanket flowers, sage, evergreen trees etc. for horticulture and landscaping. Sowing these plants can reduce water usage and water wastage. We carefully design the landscape and prefer using turfgrass as it requires less water than bluegrass.
Irrigation methods
The technology that we offer in the case of landscaping is drip irrigation, as it is one of the most efficient methods for delivering water to crops or plants with minimal water wastage. There are several advantages of drip irrigation that include reduction of evaporation, reduction of water consumed by weeds, and irrigation to an exact root depth of crops. In some cases, we can also offer mulching and sprinkler irrigation systems that involve the use of various tools like drippers, sprinklers, pipeline systems etc.
Much ado about mulch
Using mulch helps prevent evaporation, and compost helps reduce the water requirements while planting and covering the horticulture and landscape area. It is essential to leave some space around the base of each plant and resist creating mulch mounds around plants and trees. Mulch moderates soil temperature, thus promoting more significant root development and conserving moisture by reducing evaporation of water vapour from the soil surface.
Alternative water sources
We recommend watering or irrigating the plants in the early morning when evaporation rates are low. Furthermore, water reuse can provide alternatives to existing water supplies and be used to enhance water security, sustainability and resilience. Sometimes, reusing greywater or capturing rainwater offers a free source for landscape irrigation.
We work towards providing our clients with the highest performing green management products and services to help them accomplish their responsibilities and build a better tomorrow.
