Wise Water Use
Smart Lawn Care
Don’t cut your grass shorter than 2-3 centimetres. Longer grass will grow deeper roots and therefore need less watering.
Remove Weeds
It sounds simple but many people do not do it. Remove water hungry weeds regularly and save water for your precious plants.
A Garden Adds Value
We really need to remember that gardening is not only a very important leisure activity, but it also helps add value to your home. If you can accomplish this, and at the same time have a bit of fun doing simple outdoor tasks, then that’s what it’s all about.
The strong message here is that even though we all advocate conserving water at all times, there is no reason for the home garden not to continue to look great. If gardeners apply the right principles they can achieve this and save money, save water and be environmentally responsible.
Mulch It Instead!
A layer of mulch on your garden not only looks good and helps control weeds but it also protects your precious investment – your garden.
The facts on Mulch
- mulch is the most effective way to conserve water and protect the root system of your plants from heat
- mulching reduces excessive water run off and restricts weed growth
- mulching can achieve up to 73% reduction in evaporation hence reducing the need to water
There are a wide range of mulches available in bags or bulk and, of course, your own composted leaves make excellent mulch. The mulch should be at least 50mm deep and needs to be kept away from the trunk of most plants to prevent collar rot.
What is Run- off?
Run-off occurs when too much water is applied to soil too quickly for the soil to absorb. This may be due to poor soil structure, sloping banks etc, but in all cases run-off wastes valuable water and fertiliser.
In garden beds, run-off can be reduced by regular cultivation using a three prong cultivator. Lawn areas should be aerated using a special hollow tyne aerator.
