Do you have a water smart garden?

Now that we have entered into a warm spring and about to come into an even hotter summer, it is important to consider how to best create your yard into a self-managing, thriving garden. Included in this, is ensuring that your garden is a water smart garden. Meaning you will spend less time maintaining your garden, save on your water bills and save water and ideally have a garden that looks after itself.

The following will see you through some of the hottest days of our spring and summer.

Plants

• Invest in Australian natives. These types of plants have adapted to the Australian climate, meaning that need little watering and also encourage birds and insects into your garden.
• Purchase plants that suit your home’s climate. For example if you live in a dry area, purchase plants from around the world that have similar habitats – again they will need little watering.
• Use mulch to keep moisture in your soil.
• If you have large trees, plant your garden under here – keeping them out of the sun and in the shade, preventing them from drying out.
• By grouping similar plants together, you will end up using less water – as you will not be spreading the water all over the garden; where it is not needed.

Water

• Use water crystals in your garden, they increase the amount of water dispersed to your plants.
• Invest in rainwater tank for your garden, that way you are using fresh and free water on your garden; saving on your water bill!
• Using air temperature rainwater is best for your garden as it does not shock your plants.
• When washing your car, if possible, wash on the lawn, that way the run off goes straight into the earth.
• Plants don’t need to be watered every day. Minimise water usage by planning your watering times.
• Water your plants in the afternoon, that way it won’t evaporate and need to be done again

For more information on how you can save water this spring and summer, contact us at Sydney Water Tanks on 1800 041 111 or email sales@sydneywatertanks.com.au/archive.

This article was first published on LivingGreener.gov.au and reposted on www.sydneywatertanks.com.au/archive and www.bioseptic.com.au