Water Saving Tips for Your Garden - Waterwise Queensland, Australia

Water Saving Tips for Your Garden - Waterwise Queensland, Australia

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  Water saving tipsfor your garden Your garden can survive with very little water if you Improve your soil follow a few simple practices. Your soil acts as a reservoir for water, keeping your plants alive. It can store a lot more water if it includes plenty of Use mulch organic matter. Add plenty of compost, mulch or manure whenever you can. Using mulch liberally and regularly helps to retain soil moisture. It does this by reducing evaporation, restricting Wetting agents allow water to easily soak into the soil, which weed growth, and improving soil structure as it breaks down. may help if your soil has difficulty absorbing water. It also improves plant growth by providing insulation for plant roots. There are many different types of mulch to choose from. Organic mulch, such as sugar cane mulch or pine bark, will decompose over time and help improve your soil. Use a layer of mulch over the surface of your garden soil. Organic mulch should be re-applied frequently, preferably in autumn and spring, to replace the broken-down mulch. Watering tips Water only when your garden or lawn needs it—for example, when plants are showing signs of stress or the soil is dry. Apply enough water to replenish the soil profile, ensuring the amount is adequate to reach the plant root zones. Thorough but infrequent watering encourages plants to develop deeper root systems, giving them inbuilt drought protection. This works for lawns as well as for garden plants. Watch the weather. Rainfall is a free and easy way to water your garden. Be aware of your local water restrictions and water only when allowed. Tomorrow’s Queensland: strong, green, smart, healthy and fair
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  Lawn care Plant selection Lawns can be trained to survive on minimal water. Delaying There are many native and exotic plants which look great and watering and mowing will help the lawn to establish a strong thrive in low-moisture environments. To find water-efficient root system. Mow your lawn on the highest setting—at plants suited to your local area use the Waterwise Plant least 3 centimetres—to avoid ‘scalping’ your lawn. This will Selector <www.derm.qld.gov.au/waterwise/plantselector>. minimise evaporation from the soil below, and ensure that Look for plants with water-saving features such as: roots are sheltered from the harsh sun. Check that your 66 small leaves mower blades are sharp—blunt blades damage the grass 66 light coloured leaves and lead to higher water loss. Fertilise only lightly—too much fertiliser encourages excessive growth and water use. 66 sparse or protected pores in the leaf surface 66 hairy or tough leaf surfaces 66 internal water storage, in stems, trunks or roots 66 deep root systems 66 strong internal structures. More detailed advice on waterwise gardening is available on the DERM website, including information about: 66 planning a water efficient garden 66 watering your garden 66 mulch and your garden 66 maintaining your lawn 66 composting 66 growing fruit, vegetables and herbs 66 growing plants in pots or containers 66 rainwater tanks Garden planning 66 understand your soil type Incorporate water saving principles into your garden. 66 gardening with greywater. Consider providing shade and windbreaks to protect your plants from evaporation. Group plants with higher water needs together so that you only need to water this part of More information your garden. For the remainder of your garden, select water- Other water-efficient gardening guides are available efficient plants which can survive dry spells. on the Department of Environment and Resource Management website <www.derm.qld.gov.au/ waterwise>. #29273 www.derm.qld.gov.au