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Lawn And Plants

Did you know that lawns use up to 30% of the water in the garden?

The good news is there are a couple of simple things you can do to significantly reduce the amount of water your lawn areas need - saving you money and time spent mowing in the process.

Things to consider

No matter what kind of garden you'd like, there are a wide range of low maintenance light drinkers to suit your local environment.
Add compost to your soil before planting lawn, or use a good quality soil mix if you are buying soil.
Choose slow growing, water efficient lawn varieties that are best suited to your soil. They have deep roots for drought tolerance and don't need as much mowing as other varieties.
Try not to plant lawn on slopes or in hard to reach places that are difficult to water and maintain.
To assist the establishment of your new lawn and to minimise the amount of water it requires, it is recommended that you apply a light top dressing to your lawn. Talk to your local nursery or landscape supplier about a suitable weed-free, sand based, organic top dressing mix.
Water your lawn for longer, but less often, to encourage deeper roots and drought tolerance. A good soaking every now and then is ideal.
The less water you use, the less fertiliser you need. Fertilisers based on well decomposed animal manure or organic matter are best. Slow release fertilisers are also good.
Aerate the soil occasionally with a garden fork - it will help water soak in.
Try not to cut your lawn too short. Mow only the top third of the leaf area, leaving it three centimetres or higher. You can reduce water loss even further by saving your lawn clippings to use as mulch on your lawn or garden. They're also great to add to your compost bin.
If your soil is sandy, design your driveways and paved areas to slope slightly towards a lawn or garden bed. This way, rainwater can easily drain into these areas.
Another tip for sandy soil is to design your lawn area to be curved so that it acts as a kind of water retaining bowl.
Remember to avoid damage to sewer lines by planting trees far away from any pipes. Find out more about common problem species in the SewerFix section of our website.

How can I tell if my lawn needs watering?

Only water your lawn if it's showing signs of stress, such as losing colour (in summer) or visibly wilting. Another good way to tell if your lawn needs watering is to step on it. If it springs back up when you move your foot, it doesn't need watering - if it stays flat, it needs a good soak.

Alternatively, you can determine which area of lawn receives most use and water that area only. The rest of the grass can be allowed to go into dormancy in the dry season. Lawn is hardy and it will recover quickly when it rains again. To water thoroughly, wet the soil slowly to a depth of about 15 centimetres, no more than twice a week.

Plants

There are lots of great opportunities to save water and ongoing costs in our gardens when we choose plants to suit our local environment.

Water efficient gardens generally need less fertiliser and fewer pest controls than traditional landscapes, and take into account the available water, soil type and sunlight. The upshot is that you end up with a beautiful, healthy garden that you can spend more time enjoying than maintaining.

Things to consider

Group plants with similar watering needs together.
Choose local native plants. Besides needing less water and care, they'll attract lots of local wildlife.
Don't forget to plant trees and shrubs - they create natural shade and windbreaks that reduce evaporation. They also make your garden a haven on hot or windy days.
Check your site and soil before going plant shopping.

How can I tell if my garden needs watering?

It depends on many factors, such as soil type and climate. However, the simplest way to tell if your garden needs watering is to check the soil. Put your finger into the soil beyond the top two centimetres to see if it's already damp. It's also a good idea to attach a trigger nozzle to your hose so that you can target certain plants that may need more water than others.