Story Title: Waterwise Courtyards
Episode 2: WA's Great Gardens
Date: 17 October 2010
Presenter: Darren Seinor

Even in smaller spaces such as courtyards, waterwise principals remain important. Whilst a waterwise garden will help to reduce your water bills, it also has to suite your lifestyle. Darren features a low maintenance waterwise design suitable to those with a busy schedule.

Darren's Tips and Facts

• Potted plants are especially popular for courtyards and balconies and there are a few principals to follow to make sure your pots aren't water wasters.
• Instead of a collection of small pots, which can look cluttered and untidy, go for a large pot that can hold a lot more soil and water and therefore won't dry out as fast. Smaller pots dry out very quickly and need more moisture to stay in good condition.
• Always use the best quality potting mix you can afford, cheap potting mixes are a waste of your time and money, your plants will struggle and will require a lot more water to keep them looking good.
• Limestone blocks make a great raised garden bed, but as with limestone and terracotta pots it's very important to seal them to prevent excess water loss.
• Most people are very aware about mulching gardens, but seem to overlook mulching pots. Mulch in pots are just as important to save evaporation and water.

Soil Preparation

• It is important to use a good landscaping mix for your soils. You can further boost the water holding capacity of soils by using Soil Solver.
• Soil Solver is spread over the soil and dug to the depth of 100mm and watered in well.
• One of the benefits of Soil Solver is that the effect it has on the soils is permanent, so there is no need to re-apply year after year or use wetting agents and other soil conditioners.
• Soil Solver has a proven ability to increase microbial activity resulting in healthier soils, plants and less water use.

For more waterwise tips

• Being waterwise Outside Inside
• Learn how to Save 6 buckets of water every day www.save6.com.au

Contact
Water Corporation
629 Newcastle Street
Leederville  WA  6007
Contact Us

www.watercorporation.com.au

Soil Solver
Gavin Davis
P: 08 9245 2978
M: 0428 352 026
Farm: 08 9835 2026
E: gd@westnet.com.au
www.soilsolver.com.au