It’s often hard to find the perfect balance in watering your garden enough to keep it thriving and being water-wise to save money and the environment.
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Here’s BHG’s seven tips to ensure you keep your garden looking great without using excessive amounts of water.
Choose the right plants
Some plants don’t require as much water as others so putting them in will give you a great head- start on saving water. Australian natives are used to our dry climate so are a good choice. Far from being boring, there are varieties that are bursting with colour. Try grevilleas, banksia and waratahs. Succulents and cacti are another option as they are native to dry, desert climates. Before any planting improve the soil with organic matter as it helps the soil retain moisture.
Install irrigation
Drip irrigation and soaker hoses release water slowly and directly to the roots of your plants. It’s easy to install too, as all the connectors simply push into the hoses laid out on the ground. Put the watering system on a timer so you don’t have to worry about remembering to turn it on or off.
Spread mulch
Mulch helps prevent moisture loss out of your garden beds through evaporation. Lay it out a few centimetres thick at the start of the season. As it breaks down, you may have to top it up. Another bonus of mulch is that it helps prevent the growth of weeds. Save on work along with water? Gotta love that!
When to water
The best time to water your garden is the early morning or in the evening. This will reduce the amount of water lost due to evaporation and give the plants water to survive the day’s heat. The best way to water is less frequently but more thoroughly.
Water your garden less often, but for longer
Instead of watering plants in small increments every day, it’s actually more effective to give them a good soak less often, to encourage roots to grow down into the soil, where it’s cooler and promote a good firm, drier tolerant root system.
Anti-leak fittings and taps are best
We all know a leaking tap can mean litres of water wasted down the drain every month. Apart from checking your water meter for leakage, it’s important to use a good quality hose fitting that won’t leak or break. The Nylex ReTH!NK Nozzle Watering Set (RRP $12.98) includes a watering nozzle with an adjustable spray pattern and two anti-leak hose connectors.
Use the right amount of water
How much water your soil needs may depend on the soil type – light sandy soils tend to lose moisture quickly, so you might find they need watering more often as opposed to heavier clay-based soils, which tend to hold onto more moisture and often require less water.
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How to make a water garden in a bowl
How to build a pond in your backyard
How to turn your pond into a vegetable patch
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