un city
y Life Landscapes
Landscaping
SALI Awards
Sun City, North West Province, South Africa
Winner of the Rand Water Trophy for Best Water Wise Entry:
Life Landscapes/Real Green joint venture
T
he gardens at
Sun City were
originally designed
during the 1980s
by internationally
renowned
landscape
designer Patrick
Watson who is
still involved on a
consulting basis at the resort.
The winning contractors are
responsible for the turf and
landscape maintenance of the
gardens surrounding the hotels,
excluding the golf courses.
Controlled Irrigation continues
to serve as the irrigation
consultant. The clients’ brief for
the ongoing maintenance is ‘a
wild manicured look at world
class standards’.
Heat can be a problem during
the summer months and the
use of water on site is restricted
by the client, and has to be
monitored on a daily basis
because of the dry climate. Life
Landscapes also looks after
the birds and animals in the
aviary and farmyard. Jonty
Kirkby of Real Green assists
with operational matters and his
father Dave Kirkby, previously
of TopTurf (now Bidvest), who
has been involved since concept
stage, continues to serve as a
consultant to the client.
Water conservation measures
are strictly observed. Mulching
to prevent water loss is done
where there is bare soil
throughout the site, with closely
planted groundcovers and wood
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