SALI was formed in 1984 by a group of landscapers who believed that the true potential of the landscaping industry could only be realized if landscapers showed unity, produced excellent work and worked with professionalism and integrity. Over the years SALI has grown consistently and remains the only standards body, national representative and voice for landscaping professionals in South Africa.

SALI consists of a vast network of members, principal and suppliers, through out South Africa who are guided by the SALI Constitution and Code of Conduct. SALI members endeavor to improve the standard of the landscaping industry by adhering to the Minimum Specifications laid down by SALI and by so doing ensure clients get increased value and professionalism you can trust.

In the event of a dispute arising from the work a SALI member has been asked to perform, the Institute offers mediation to keep communication open and assist with resolution.

Applicants for SALI membership are screened and evaluated in terms of quality of work, company history, project history, client satisfaction and administration, legal, tax and insurance compliance. Successful applicants are registered as members and in order to retain ongoing annual membership are required to participate in the SALI Awards of Excellence to ensure the high standards set by SALI are maintained.

SALI Members offer many services, including design, irrigation, commercial and residential landscaping. The client also has security knowing that behind every landscaper is a responsible Institute.

SALI landscapers create beautiful gardens, professionally. Adding value to your property.

Drought, a word that has appeared more frequently in our conversations of late. To ignore the reality about the changes to our climate would be like shooting ourselves in the foot.

Water and the availability of water is the heartbeat of climate change. Understanding, respecting and preserving this resource is of vital importance because it effects our planning, it affects our ability run our business and business operations, which all have major financial implications.

Not to mention our environment, ecosystems and ultimately all life on earth is dependent on this resource for survival. All water resources used in and to maintain landscapes must therefore be used sparingly and with utmost care.

Acknowledging this, Rand Water and SALI have collaborated to produce this

Guide to Water Wise Landscaping which will take you on a journey to understand some of the complexities associated with supplying potable drinking water and how climate change could affect this supply in the future.

We then go on to elaborate on practical water wise principles that can be

implemented to help reduce water use (from any source) in the landscape. By adapting landscapes to reduce their need on water, the landscaping industry can make a substantial contribution to reducing demand on water resources.

SALI together with Rand Water has for the first time modified the criteria for the SALI Awards of Excellence to include a Water Wise element in each category of the awards. This shift in mind-set creates a platform to celebrate different types of landscapes for the value they add in various water conservation principles. Finally the latter part of the guide showcases this.

With such achievements in one of the worst droughts faced by South Africans, we hope that this guide will inspire anyone who engages in a landscaped environment to appreciate it and to be Water Wise.

Meagan Donnelly & Leslie Hoy – Rand Water

Please click on the link below to download the digital version of the Guide to Water Wise Landscaping.