Story: Waterwise Preparation
Episode: 9
Presenter: Darren Seinor
Air Date: 16 October 2021

We all know the importance of being Waterwise and this is especially vital leading into the warmer months. Darren shares his top tips to save water in your garden right through summer.

• Tip number 1, is to apply a wetting agent. Don’t wait for your lawn or garden to show signs of stress or dehydration first.
• A top-quality wetting agent, either liquid or granule, applied in spring can help ensure your plants and lawns are ready for the arrival of the hot, dry weather and remember to water in well after application.
• Tip number 2, is to Plant local, endemic native plants in your garden. This is a great way to cut back on the amount of water your garden needs.
• Local native plants are naturally suited to our hot, dry climate and will thrive with very little water.
• Tip number 3, is to mulch. Mulching is a simple, easy and economical way to improve the water efficiency levels of any garden.
• Use a coarse, chunky mulch that will allow any rain or irrigation water to easily pass through it and move into the soil below, where it’s needed. Apply approximately 70mm thick and remember to keep clear of your plant’s stems.
• Tip number 4, is to use Waterwise irrigation controls.
• Smart controllers are connected to your home wifi and can harvest massive amounts of weather data from the internet to automatically modify your programmed run times to save water and keep your garden looking great.
• Tip number 5, is to plant more trees. Shady gardens are cooler, healthier and use less water to keep the plants and lawns in tip-top condition.
• Shade giving trees lower the evaporation rate in the garden, therefore less moisture is lost from the soil so your plants won’t get anywhere near as heat stress.