As summer progresses, you might be looking at your garden and wondering how you could cut down your watering time. In this article we give you our top tips for creating and maintaining a waterwise garden.
1. Plan your garden
You might have an established garden but if you’re starting from scratch, it’s a great idea to think about what plants you will plant and where. If you’re mixing plants, you’ll want to group plants by their watering needs. For example, plant azaleas with irises but agapanthus with spider plants or pelargoniums. This means you won’t overwater plants with lower water needs. If you use an irrigation system, you might want to split it or block some outlets near drought-tolerant plants.
2. Choose smart plants
One of the most crucial aspects of waterwise gardening is choosing plants well-suited to the local climate and soil conditions. Some plants might seem like they need more water but looks can be deceptive. Here are some tips for selecting waterwise plants:
Native Australian plants: Most (but not all) native plants are adapted to the local climate and often require less water than exotic species. There are some beautiful natives you could add to your garden. Think about planting some Australian natives like Grevilleas, Banksias and Callistemons (bottlebrushes) into your garden. Natives can be leafy and colourful, as well as sculptural.
Succulents and cacti: These plants are naturally drought-tolerant and can thrive in dry conditions. They come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and colours, adding visual interest to your garden. Aloes, snake plants, agaves and creepers like Carpobrotus (what we used to call ‘pigface’) are all drought tolerant. Just make sure you don’t overwater them.
Drought-tolerant perennials: Many perennials such as lavender, rosemary and salvia (the sage plant) are well-suited to dry conditions. They often have fragrant foliage and attractive flowers. The great thing about these plants is the rougher you treat them (especially lavender), the better they’ll grow.
Fleshy-root plants: Agapanthus, clivias and spiderplants among others have fleshy roots that retain water and require minimal watering.
3. Water more efficiently
Most of us gardeners will get out the hose in the morning or afternoon and water until we get bored. However, you can get more scientific and instead of frequent, shallow watering, water your plants deeply and less often. This encourages deep root growth, which helps plants to access moisture during dry periods.
4. Make mulch your friend
Applying a layer of mulch around your plants helps to retain soil moisture, suppress weeds and regulate soil temperature. Organic mulches such as bark chips or compost are ideal for waterwise gardens. The important thing to remember is that you should add mulch to an already-watered garden and hose it down once you have it all in place.
5. Harvest rain
Collecting rainwater in tanks is an excellent way to supplement your water supply, especially during dry periods. Even in dry periods, we get some rain and it doesn’t take long to fill a 3.000-litre slimline tank. The rule of thumb is that one millimetre of rain per square metre of roof over one hour delivers one litre. A large roof will deliver a good deal of water even without too much rain.
6. Use an irrigation system
A drip irrigation system delivers water directly to the root zone of plants, minimising water loss through evaporation.
Applying water directly to the roots in a controlled manner is extremely water-efficient, preventing water waste and ensuring you’re providing the actual plants with nutrients rather than the leaves. The automation also means one less time-consuming task for you to manage.
7. Time your watering
To minimise evaporation, it’s best to water your garden early in the morning (at least before 10 am) or in the evening. Avoid watering on windy days, as this can lead to significant water loss. If you know the day will be windy and it’s a watering day, then water early before the wind gets up.
Additional tips for a waterwise garden
Reduce your lawn area
Lawns require significant amounts of water, so consider replacing some of your lawn with drought-tolerant groundcovers or paving. However, while we recommend minimising grass, you shouldn’t eliminate it altogether. Grass has cooling properties that can help keep your home cooler and will reduce your need for air conditioning or fans.
Choose waterwise containers
Use pots with drainage holes and water-retentive potting mixes to help your container plants retain moisture. If you find you have to water a large pot every day, this probably means the soil has dried out. Grab some potting mix and repot the plant.
Monitor your soil’s moisture levels
If you’re really keen you could use a soil moisture meter to check the moisture levels in your garden. This will help you to avoid overwatering. However, if you don’t know where to find a moisture meter, put your hand on the soil. If it’s cool to the touch, it probably has enough moisture.
Consider adding non-plant elements
Rock gardens, a dry riverbed or a paved outdoor area can reduce the amount of water your garden needs while still providing visual interest.
With some planning and effort, you can create a beautiful, waterwise garden in The Hills that will thrive.
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