WaterSense Essentials In the garden WaterSense makes sense… in the garden. Sensible watering in the garden Everybody loves to have a garden which is healthy and alive. There are many simple things we can do in our gardens to save water. Try some of these simple tips: •Water your garden in the cool of the early morning, or in the evening to reduce water loss through evaporation. Water used in the garden and outdoors accounts for 40% of total household water usage in an average household in Tasmania. It makes sense to be water efficient outdoors to keep both your garden and your wallet in the green. •Water the roots and soil around plants rather than spraying the leaves and flowers. •Use deep mulch and add compost to your soil. These add nutrients and help to retain moisture and reduce evaporation. •If you are considering a watering system, install a drip irrigation system. It will cut wastage by making sure the water goes only where you need it. •Regularly check your outdoor taps, pipes and plumbing fixtures for leaks. Just one dripping tap can waste 2,000 litres a month. •Water gardens for longer, but less often, to promote deeper roots and hardier, healthier, drought tolerant plants. Remember to only use a handheld hose (with trigger nozzle), a watering can, or install drip irrigation. • Save the cold water while the shower or kitchen tap is warming up and use it on the garden or pot plants. •Try not to hose paths, patios and driveways. Use a broom, rake or outdoor blower instead. Lawns • Apply a light top dressing to assist the establishment of a new lawn and minimise the amount of water it requires. Talk to your local nursery or landscape supplier about a suitable weed-free, sand based, organic top dressing mix. • Watering your lawn less often but for longer will help make your lawn more drought resistant by encouraging deeper roots. Use a hand-held hose to give it a good soaking occasionally (if rainfall isn’t doing the job). • When mowing, cut only the top third of the leaf area of your lawn to keep it longer, leaving it three centimetres or higher. Reduce water loss even further by saving your lawn clippings to use as mulch on your lawn or garden. TasWater WaterSense Essentials In the garden WaterSense makes sense… in the garden. Watering systems Your garden The type of watering system you use in your garden has a huge impact on how much water you use. Choosing the most efficient watering system to suit your garden could save you heaps of water and money. Garden or lawn irrigation can quickly use thousands of litres, particularly if you are using multiple sprinklers or spray heads. Type Water consumption Garden hose Standard sprinkler Water efficient sprinkler Spray head Micro spray head Drip irrigation 720 litres / hour 600 litres / hour 300 litres / hour 450 litres / hour 50 litres / hour 9 litres per metre / hour Drip irrigation is an extremely efficient option in the right environment (up to 100 times more efficient than sprinklers) because water gets directly to the roots of the plants and is not wasted on leaves and flowers. Because it is laid at the base of the plants, it works well in conjunction with a thick mulch, which can reduce moisture loss by 70%. When using sprinklers, look for a water efficient rotator sprinkler. Micro spray heads are also a popular option, but remember the more you have, the more water will be used. Remember, the most important thing is to know how much your plants need and don’t overwater. Choosing the right plants When choosing plants for your garden, try and select native species wherever possible. Native plants should require minimal watering as they are adapted to the local climate. Ask your local nursery or garden supplier about the most suitable plants for the local environment. Try and group plants with similar watering needs together when planting new garden beds. When deciding on a lawn type, go for slow growing, water saving varieties like Palmetto. They have deep roots for drought tolerance and they don’t need mowing as much as other varieties. There are some terrific resources available on plants native to southern Tasmania. NRM South has published a Native Gardens planting and landscaping guide for the southern region of Tasmania. Free copies of this guide are available on request from TasWater, or by contacting NRM South. TasWater
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