Water Saving
Water is a precious resource and in limited supply. We need to minimise water use in our gardens without sacrificing plant health. Remember soil is the most important resource in your garden and by feeding the soil with organic matter you can increase its water holding capacity, improve texture and thereby maximise plant health.
The best way to do this is to ensure there is plenty of organic matter in the soil. Use of animal manures and compost improve soil’s porosity which creates air spaces for water and also for roots to grow.
As well as use of organic matter in the soil it is important to protect this by mulching. Using 7 -10 cm of mulch on garden beds and pots moisture can be retained longer in the soil and as the mulch breaks down over time, more organic matter is released into the soil.
There are many types of mulch available including some with added nutrients. You can choose the one that suits your landscape style for example a bark chip - or if you prefer a sugar cane or pea straw. Be sure to apply fertiliser on the soil surface before mulching. This will work its way into the soil over time and replace nitrogen used by the mulch as it breaks down.
Fertilisers can be found to suit whatever plants you decide to grow, check the packaging to ensure compatibility with your garden. A good base is blood and bone which adds organic matter and also nitrogen and other essential nutrients for optimal plant growth.
Wetting agents can also be used in soil to improve water holding. These range from soluble to granular forms that allow moisture to be held on soil particles and also crystals which hold water for plants future use. Although it is easier to add these during preparation of soil beds and pots you can add them later and water in thoroughly. In the case of crystals a hole can be made with a dibber or stake and the crystals applied down near the plants root zone – be careful not to damage the roots!
Water can also be used more efficiently by zoning plants together that have similar water and nutrient requirements. This removes the need to change the type or frequency of fertlising and the amount of water can be limited to the type of plants used in a particular area.
To collect rainfall use of tanks is ideal however water can also be collected by directing runoff from paths and paved areas towards garden beds. Lower lying areas in the garden can be ‘dished’ to gather excess runoff and allow to soak in over time. Areas like this can be planted with species that prefer to have ‘wet feet’.
