Weed 'em and reap a reward

A former hotel manager has created a zoo of green beasts

Sonny Govender's dedication to his garden paid off when he was voted best "plant manager" on his block.

Govender won the Keep Tongaat Beautiful Association's competition last week for his landscaping efforts.

The 68-year-old began gardening as a youngster out of necessity, but the art of growing plants soon became an abiding love.

"When we were younger, my siblings and I would plant vegetables on our small plot of land to eat.

"From the age of nine onwards, I would help my mother. When she got sick, we took over," he said.

Govender's need to potter about in his back yard never waned - even when his full-time job as food and beverage manager at a local hotel chain forced him to work odd hours.

"I would come home every day after work and make sure I did something in the garden," he said.

Govender's talent lies in topiary and he has filled the front yard and the verge of his Tongaat home with a host of wild "creatures".

He said he and his wife, Dolly, had decided to tackle the verge because it was overgrown.

"Although it is municipal land, it doesn't mean we can't do our part to keep it clean," he said.

For beautifying his little nook of Tongaat, Govender received a certificate and an electric fryer - something Dolly said she planned to make good use of.

Top Five Green Tips:

Treat mildew on plants by spraying it with a mixture of Sunlight liquid and water;

Water lawns in the mornings when the air is cooler. Water bigger plants in the evening;

Don't be afraid to use thin wires to help guide plants when you are landscaping;

Try to use only organic products - they are better for plants; and

Start small. Find and nurse a small piece of turf before spreading out over the whole garden.