Efficient Watering Methods - Sustainable Gardening Australia

1. Efficient watering methods
Approximately 25% of domestic Give yourself a tick if you:
water gets used in the garden.
Have 50% or more of your garden planted with low water use plants
Some of this water can be saved
by treating soil so that water can Have less than 50% of your garden area taken up by lawn
penetrate it, using mulch to stop Have mulched all your garden beds and pots
water evaporating, and installing
efficient irrigation and good Don’t have a lawn, or if you do, cut your lawn long (8-10cm) over summer
garden design. Water in the cool of the day
Water around the plant root zone with long, infrequent watering
Use a soaker hose or dripper system instead of sprays
Have either a timer on your taps or shut off valves on your hoses
Have a water tank for garden watering
Use Environmental Protection Authority approved techniques or systems
to recycle greywater from the laundry and bathroom to the garden
Watering Score /10
Water Conservation Gardening 1

2. Watering tips
1. Install a rainwater tank to suit your 6. Use a trigger nozzle to ensure you 13. Plant wind breaks to reduce the wind’s
garden watering needs, the size of don’t waste water while moving around drying effects on your garden.
your house and the position of the garden. Always turn it off at the tap 14. Group together plants with similar
down pipes. when you have finished in case the watering needs.
2. Check and clean your irrigation system hose springs a leak. 15. Choose local plants that have
every spring. An efficient irrigation 7. If you are using a sprinkler use one lower watering needs and suit
system can save up to 46,000 litres of that makes big drops of water rather drier conditions.
water in your garden each year. than a fine mist which can be scattered 16. Remove weeds regularly as they
3. Use a drip watering system or porous by the wind or evaporate. compete with your plants and lawns
hose which cuts wastage by ensuring 8. Use an inverted soft drink bottle to give for water.
that the water only goes to where it is slow constant watering to annuals, 17. Check the weather forecast to avoid
needed. ferns and roses. watering before rain.
4. Avoid micro-sprays. They waste 9. Position irrigation systems so that 18. Stop water evaporating before it
up to 70% water through drift and water does not fall on paths, patios, reaches your plant roots by watering in
evaporation and if the soil is mulched, driveways or buildings. the early morning or late evening.
water will not penetrate to the soil. 10. Remember to reschedule your
5. Fit tap timers to make sure you don’t irrigation system for Winter and
over-water and use rain and/or soil Summer conditions.
moisture sensors in your garden 11. Use soil wetting agents to hold water in
so that watering doesn’t occur the soil longer and closer to the plants.
automatically when it is wet. 12. Use mulch on your garden beds.
2 Water Conservation Gardening

3. Further Information
City West Water
Efficient Irrigation Fact Sheet
Waterwise Gardening
19. Water your garden and lawn less 23. Use a pool cover. This helps to prevent by Kevin Walsh
often but more thoroughly. This will evaporation (especially on windy days) Waterwise House & Garden
encourage your plants to extend their and reduces the need to regularly by Allan Windust
roots deeper into the soil, making them top up your pool water level. Without
Water Efficient Garden
more drought resistant, hardier and a cover, over half of the water can
by Wendy van Dok
less thirsty. evaporate in a year.
20. Target the root zone when watering 24. Do not empty your pool during winter. www.citywestwater.com.au
your plants. There is no benefit to This can waste over 100,000 litres www.sgaonline.org.au
spraying the leaves and flowers, of water which could be treated
www.savewater.com.au
in fact on hot, sunny days you will without emptying.
cause damage.
21. Put an ice-cream container on your
lawn or garden before you turn on your
irrigation system. When the water in
the container is 10mm deep, you have
watered long enough. After you have
watered, dig down to see how far it has
penetrated. It should be at least 10cm.
22. Use a broom to clean paved surfaces
such as driveways and paths and put
the sweepings in your compost heap
or use them as mulch.
Water Conservation Gardening 3

4. Garden design
When we
establish our
garden, overall garden You may have a fairly traditional English- You can gradually modify this style of
design is often the last thing style garden with a large open lawn and garden to use less water. As the high
we think about when it should flowerbeds of exotic plants around the water using plants die, replace them with
be the first. It is important and outside. These types of gardens tend to plants that need less water. In autumn look
fun to develop a plan of how you need a lot of water and fertiliser. at moving your plants around to ensure
they are grouped according to their water
want your garden to look and
needs. Gradually extend your garden beds
feel, and think about how you
to add interesting curves and reduce the
can reduce water use in
water-thirsty lawn area. In hard-wearing
your garden. areas, such as a BBQ or around the
clothes line, think about replacing worn
turf with a permeable gravel or paving.
If you are designing your garden from
scratch you have a fantastic opportunity
to create an interesting and vibrant water-
smart garden. The garden design you
choose will depend on many factors such
as children, pets, if you entertain outdoors,
or like to grow vegies.
4 Water Conservation Gardening

5. Think about your needs, the size of garden
area you’d like, the type of plants you Give yourself a tick if you:
like from the point of view of foliage and
Have a plan of sun/shade, slope and soil variation in your garden
flowers, the kind of surface you prefer
and how much time you want to spend Have a rough planting plan that groups plants according to
maintaining your garden. Consider the their water needs
water conservation information in this
Have less than 50% lawn
booklet and incorporate as many aspects
as is practical for you. Have maximized the permeable surface
e.g. replace concrete with gravel
Take time to work out how you can create
a garden that you feel comfortable with, Have designed your garden to have flow and interest to create appeal
you will enjoy and that suits your local soil
and climate. Garden Design Score /5
Water Conservation Gardening 5

6. Garden design tips
1. List what you need (e.g. shed, washing 4. Find a style you like which suits your
line, kids swings, entertainment area) garden so all the paving, pots, water Further Information
and what you want (e.g. vegie garden, features, and plants match, especially City West Water
shade area, pond, fruit trees). in a courtyard garden. Garden Styles Fact Sheet
2. Do a site analysis, (e.g. sun, shade, 5. Make beds bigger and lawns smaller.
The Australian Garden by Diana
slope, privacy-all the problems that The best way to make bigger beds out
Snape.
need solving) which will tell you what of lawn space, is to mow the lawn low,
your site will let you do. cover with 8-10 sheets of newspaper Beautiful Gardens with Less water
3. Do a scaled plan or mark out in the (overlapping), put 10-15cm pea straw by John Patrick
garden what will go where, practically on top, wait 3-4 months and then plant Bold Romantic Gardens
and where it looks best. For example, directly into it. The grass should have by Oehme Van Swede
placing a new shed in a shady corner, all died. This must be done when the
Browse through the library
vegetables where they get full sun, a soil is moist, (autumn or winter). Plant
pond where it can be seen from inside before November or the following
the house, and a shade tree to the autumn.
north of the house.
6 Water Conservation Gardening

7. Caring for your soil
Healthy soil
holds water in the root
zone where plants most need Generally soils fall into three main
it. Healthy soil needs organic structural types based on the size of
matter (mulch, compost, manure, grass grains – clay, loam and sand. The water
clippings). Worms break this down to holding capacity of a soil directly relates
make food for plants and their burrows to the soil type.
allow air into the soil so the plant roots can
breath. Organic matter needs to be replaced
regularly as the worms eat it and plants
absorb the nutrients. If organic matter
is not added, soil can become like
concrete in the summer and turn
into a sticky mess in the
winter.
Water Conservation Gardening 7

8. Clay soils Sandy soils Loam soils
• Retain or hold nutrients and water • May have little organic matter • Thought to be ideal for growing pants
• May have poor drainage • Allow rapid infiltration and drainage • Drain freely
• May have low aeration of water • Hold moderate amounts of nutrients
• May be difficult to cultivate, • Hold little water or nutrients and water, but not always
but not always. • Easy to cultivate Well-structured clays and sandy loams
If you have clay soil, adding organic matter Sandy soils benefit greatly from the with lots of organic matter are the best
will improve it and you may want to add introduction of organic matter. soils for holding the largest amounts of
gypsum to help break it up. This not helps water for plant growth.
water gets in more easily, it also breaks up
the crust that often forms and means water
runs off the surface rather than soaks in.
Give yourself a tick if you:
Know your soil type
Regularly add organic matter to your soil
Have at least 3 worms in a spadeful of soil wherever you dig in the
garden
Only dig your soil when you have to
Soil Score /4
8 Water Conservation Gardening

9. Soil improvement tips
1. To improve your soil you need to know 2. Don’t cultivate your soil unless it is very
what type of soil you have. If you are compacted after building works. Over-
not sure take a sample to your local digging destroys the soil structure,
garden center and they should be able therefore destroying the air holes
to inform you of your soil type. and drainage spaces. This creates
a ‘cloddy’ soil that is hard to work.
Further Information
The Natural Gardener
by Jeffrey Hodges
Gardening Down-Under
by Kevin Handreck
www.sgaonline.org.au
Water Conservation Gardening 9

10. Compost and mulch
Mulching
performs a variety
of functions in the garden.
Compost
Most importantly, it conserves
soil moisture, reducing the Compost is one of the most affordable Regularly digging either home made or
sources of organic matter available. commercial compost into your soil will
amount of water we need to apply
You can create soil-enriching compost greatly improve the ability of your soil to
to our gardens and pots. Compost
from such things as grass clippings, food hold water as well as provide valuable
dug into your garden improves
scraps, newspapers and garden prunings. nutrients for your plants.
soil quality by helping to retain
water, improving drainage and
encouraging worms and
other micro flora and
fauna.
10 Water Conservation Gardening

11. Mulch
Up to 73% of water can be evaporated Hardwood chips with no fine particles are Mulch with fine grade material has a
from the soil on a hot day if you do not generally the best ground cover mulch tendency to clump and become water
have a protective layer of mulch on top. as they allow good air flow and let water repellent.
Mulch has many beneficial effects. freely flow through to the ground below.
After mulching don’t water your garden as
Not only does it help prevent water loss often or you could drown your plants.
from the soil, but many mulches add
nutrients to the soil as they break down
and can help to suppress weed growth. Give yourself a tick if you:
There are different types of mulch that Use your compost as a fertiliser under mulch, mix it with potting mix in
should be used in different circumstances. containers, use it on top of seed beds in the vegetable garden or stew it
Generally peastraw and lucerne are best in water to make a liquid feed
if you have not mulched the soil for a
Use a worm farm if you live in an apartment or have a small garden
long time, as they break down quickly
and it’s easier for the worms to eat. Have mulched all your garden beds and pots
These mulches are also rich in nutrients
Check mulch levels and replace mulch every year to 8 -10cm deep
and are ideal for vegie gardens.
Know which are the best types of mulch for different types of plants
Know at least 3 good things mulch does to reduce maintenance
Compost/Mulch Score /6
Water Conservation Gardening 11

12. Composting and mulch tips
1. Your compost bin or heap should be 4. The soil needs to be damp before you
on soil, not concrete, so it drains well add mulch, so late spring (November) Further Information
and the worms and bacteria can enter is the best time to put on mulch once City West Water
the bin to decompose the waste. the winter rains have soaked. Compost Made Easy Fact Sheet
2. All compost bins or heaps, need a 5. Local plants and natives like a
City West Water Mulch Fact Sheet
balance of materials that: relatively infertile soil so they prefer
• are high in nitrogen, such as blood hardwood bark mulch once the soil Make your own Compost
& bone or chook manure. has been improved with pea straw. by Yvonne Cave
• contain carbon, such as dried leaves Gardening Down-Under
or shredded newspapers. by Kevin Handreck
• contain both carbon & nitrogen, such The Natural Magic of Mulch
as kitchen scraps, pea straw and by Michael J. Roads
green garden prunings.
www.ecorecycle.vic.gov.au
3. In addition, the compost heap or
bin needs: www.sgaonline.org.au
• water, but only enough so that the
contents are moist but not wet.
• oxygen, from air, added by regularly
turning over the contents of the heap.
• warmth, by putting it in a sunny place.
• to have easy access.
12 Water Conservation Gardening

13. Greywater
The domestic
wastewater that comes Greywater is suitable for garden beds, For health reasons if you are using
from the laundry and lawns and fruit trees. Systems can be greywater:
bathroom is called ‘greywater’. as simple as a flow diversion fitting and
1. Don’t use nappy-wash water in
Reusing wastewater from your hose fed by gravity. There are also more
greywater.
bathroom and laundry on the complex systems that involve a sump tank
2. Don’t allow children to play with or in
garden is an excellent way to save with sub surface agipipe irrigation.
the greywater.
water and money and unlike The type of greywater system you choose 3. Don’t allow pets to drink greywater.
rainwater, it is available every will vary depending on the shape and type
4. Use subsurface distribution such as
time you shower or wash. of garden you have. Seek the advice of an
porous hoses or drippers beneath a
irrigation consultant at a garden center.
layer of mulch.
Although kitchen water is technically 5. Avoid applying greywater to edible
termed ‘greywater’, it is not suitable to use parts of vegetables.
on gardens because of the presence of 6. Don’t allow greywater to leave your
particles of food and fats. property.
It is best to avoid irrigating gardens 7. Plumbing regulations state that all
when the following are in your drainage and water supply work must
greywater: washing detergents with high be carried out by a licensed plumber.
phosphorous levels, bleaches and other
disinfectants and fats (from soaps). For further information
www.epa.vic.gov.au
Water Conservation Gardening 13

14. Low water use plants
There is a huge range of low Indigenous Plants: are local plants suited Native Plants: A wide range of
water use plants for all types of to the local soil and climate. They do not Australian native plants are suited to
gardens – from local indigenous require large amounts of nutrients and dry conditions and a reasonable range
plants, to Australian natives as once established, little water. There are of soil types. These include Eucalypts,
many beautiful plants local to Melbourne’s Wattles, Banksias, Bottlebrushes
well as plants from other parts
inner and western suburbs. Many of these (Callistemon spp), Grevilleas, Native
of the world. As long as they
plants offer shelter and are important fushias (Correa spp), and Kangaroo
are not environmental weeds, food sources for local birds, insects, paws (Anigozanthus spp). These plants
and have similar water and soil reptiles and animals. Examples include: work well in any garden and are great
requirements, you can mix and Purple coral pea (Hardenbergia violacea), for attracting birds and butterflies.
match a large variety of plants Creeping bossiaea (bossiaea prostrata),
to create a diverse and Cut-leaf daisy (Brachyscome multifida)
interesting garden. and Tufted bluebells (Wahlenbergia
communis).
14 Water Conservation Gardening

15. Succulent and foliage pants: These
plants have become extremely popular
during the last few years as we all try to
conserve water. They do well in containers
and in contemporary style gardens. Some
great examples include Yuccas, Cycads,
Agaves, Escheverias, and various Flax.
Grey leaf plants: Plants with grey
or silvery leaves cope well with heat
and drought as well as adding foliage Give yourself a tick if you
and texture variation in a garden.
Examples include Lavenders (but not Have more than 50% of your garden planted with low water use plants
Italian lavender as it is an environmental Have made a planting plan for a new or established garden to suit low
weed), Westringia, Lambs ears water use plants
(Stachys byzantina) and Bearded iris.
Have reduced your lawn area to less than 50% of total garden area
Have grouped your plants according to their water, sun and nutrient
needs
Regularly observe native birds, reptiles, insects and animals in your
garden
Plant Score /5
Water Conservation Gardening 15

16. Plant tips
1. Autumn is the ideal time to plant.
Never plant in summer. Further Information
2. There is a tree to fit every size garden. City West Water
Trees provide shade, leaves for mulch, Planting Over Easements Fact Sheet
habitat for wildlife, produce oxygen
City West Water
and use up carbon dioxide, and can
Garden Styles Fact Sheet
provide fruit. If possible plant a native
or indigenous tree. Grow What Where
3. Native, indigenous and exotics can by Australian Plant Study Group
be used together to create successful Australian Plants for Mediterranean
gardens, but care is needed at the Climate Gardens
planning stage. by Rodger Elliot
www.sgaonline.org.au
Your local council may be able to
provide you with a plant list of Local
Indigenous Plants.
16 Water Conservation Gardening

17. Lawn and alternatives
Traditional You may want to consider a native Or you may prefer to do away with a
turf lawns are often grass lawn. One of the most successful lawn/plant alternative altogether. Lawn
high water users and native grasses that creates the look areas can be replaced with gravel, granitic
can look unsightly during of a traditional lawn is weeping grass sand, pavers or mulch chips. If you are
(Microlaena stipoides). It can be mown laying pavers, it is important to direct
water restrictions and times
regularly and will grow well in a wide range water onto garden beds or keep it on site
of low-rainfall. There are a
of soils. Weeping grass is drought, frost by planting mondo grass for example, in
number of traditional lawn
and shade tolerant, but does not cope with between pavers. There are also permeable
turfs that are relatively low heavy traffic or dog urine. It is excellent for pavers on the market that allow water to
water users including a front lawn and can be grown from seed seep through the paver to the soil below.
Sir Walter Buffalo. or plugs.
If you like clumps of tussocky grasses
then kangaroo grass (Themeda triandra),
Wallaby grass (Austrodanthonia spp.) and
common tussock grass (Poa spp.) are
great alternatives.
You can also use groundcover plants that
form dense mats, don’t require mowing
and perform well in the shade. Examples
include: kidney plant (Dichondra repens),
creeping boobialla (Myoporum parvifolia)
and native mint (Mentha diemenica).
Water Conservation Gardening 17

18. Water conservation gardening score card
Conduct a sustainability audit Section Now 6 months 12 months
on your garden by counting up
the number of ticks you have Garden Design (5)
achieved for each section and Watering (10)
add up your total. Make a note
Soil (4)
of what you have to do to score
more ticks in 6 months and Compost & Mulch(5)
12 months time. You can then Plants (5)
start working towards making
Total (25)
your garden more sustainable.
18 Water Conservation Gardening

19. Your notes
Water Conservation Gardening 19

20. For more information please contact
City West Water:
City West Water Ltd.
ABN 70 066 902 467
247-251 St Albans Rd
Sunshine VIC 3020
Account and General Enquiries: 131 691
Emergencies (24 hours):
1800 132 642 or 13WATER
Interpreter Service: 131 450
20 Water Conservation Gardening