2010 is the driest year on record and with increased water restrictions it's important to maintain your garden whilst using less water. So what can you do to help your garden survive with less water? Here are some simple tips!
5 top tips
1. MULCH MULCH MULCH
2. Add soil wetting agent
3. Plant a native or waterwise garden
4. Plant trees
5. Reduce your lawn cover
Want other ideas about how to drought proof your garden?
1. MULCH MULCH MULCH
Mulch your garden with 50 – 75mm of coarse mulch.
Why?
- Mulch will reduce evaporation, helping your plants retain any water that you give them.
- Mulch reduces the soil temperature in summer, helping your plants to survive long, hot periods.
- Mulch limits weed growth.
- Mulch adds nutrients to the soil as it breaks down – improving the quality of the soil.
2. Add soil wetting agent
Many soils in Western Australia become water repellent due to drying out. This means the water you add to your garden won't be penetrating well in the plant's root zone and while you think your plants need watering every few days in summer, it's just the soil isn't allowing the plants to absorb the water.
Wetting agents break down the waxy coating on soils and allow water to penetrate into the spaces between the soil particles. This allows the water you put onto your garden to have the best results for your plants.
3. Plant a local native or waterwise garden
Native plants are adapted to our dry climate and so require limited watering once established. Native plants can also encourage the return of native birds species to urban environments. There are also lots of waterwise plants that require limited watering. Planting a native or waterwise garden will help your house to look beautiful throughout summer when non-native gardens are drying out.
Planting in late autumn to early winter will give the plants the most time to establish ahead of summer.
For an interactive way to select the right plants for your garden, visit the Water Corporation's waterwise plants for Western Australia.
4. Plant trees
Trees can provide amazing water savings to your garden and your house. They can shade your house which will reduce your energy bills as well as water used in the house through air conditioning. Urban environment are hotter than surrounding areas because of the large amount of paved and roofed areas. Planting trees helps to cool the urban environment. Many trees, once established may not require additional watering, as the roots will absorb water from the groundwater table. Select native trees or trees that require low amounts of water.
Trees will shade your garden, helping your other plants to stay cool and require less water.
For information on where to plant trees to best shade your house visit the Australian Government website - Your Home by clicking here.
5. Reduce your lawn cover
Lawn uses up to 90% of the water applied to a garden. Determine where and how much lawn you use and replace unused lawn with native plants, waterwise plants or trees.
Where you need lawn, choose lawn that requires low water use, and is heat and drought tolerant. Warm season grasses such as Couch, Buffalo, Saltene or Kikuyu respond well to the hot summers in Western Australia.
Set your lawn mower height to about 6cm so that your grass grows taller. This simple step will reduce the amount of lawn maintenance required for your lawn, as you won't have to mow as frequently. Letting your grass grow taller is also much healthier for the plants as the roots can grow further into the soil.
Want other ideas about how to drought proof your garden?
Need further information? Please contact efficiency@water.wa.gov.au.