Every Drop Counts!

Guiding steps to be more waterwise

 

1. Do you have a water tank that’s not connected to the mains? You can water however and whenever you like, but it’s more efcient to stick to before 10am and after 4pm.
2. 
   If you have a drip irrigation system or smart watering system (one that’s controlled by a device that monitors the weather and water demands and responds accordingly) then you can use this for 15 minutes every day before 10am and after 4pm. We stock Smart Weather Stations that you can connect to your system.
3. 
   If you have a gardener, check with them if they have an exception. There may be some duties that they are allowed to use water for as part of their permit.
4. 
   You are still allowed use spray on products like ‘Weed and Feed’, Harvest hose-on organic fertiliser, Click on Seasol, Eco-flo lime and DroughtShield, which helps stock plants from expiring as much water, at any time of the day.
5. 
   Mist your plants too before 10am and after 4pm to increase the humidity and help clean their breathing pores. Just like us, plants don’t like dry and dusty conditions.
6. 
   You can use shower and washing machine water on your trees and established shrubs, though avoid using grey water on your edible vegies and leafy greens. Bore water can also be used, though some restrictions may apply.

 

7. Choose your ‘keepers’ and devote as many extra resources to them as you have time for. Look at these plants as ‘investment pieces’ rather than decorating items.
8. 
   New lawns can be watered three times a day the first week they are laid, with a decreasing amount each day each week until their fourth week, when they drop down to before 10am and after 4pm for 30 minutes three days a week. After week four you can water using a watering can before 10am and after 4pm, and bear in mind that Turf NSW recommends only watering established lawns once a week.
9. 
   Use water surfactants to help your water get down into the soil where the plants can use it. Make sure your garden has one of these applied to it (e.g. Saturaid, which reduces water use by up to 50%) and that your potting mix has the Australian Premium Standard marks (the red ticks) so that it also contains water storing crystals, slow release fertiliser and surfactants. And MULCH, MULCH, MULCH to keep your soil from drying out further.

 

At Eden we carry a great range of waterwise products. Ask instore if you need advice or direction. Remember, if you have special reasons to not adhere to these restrictions you can apply for exemptions. This may be because you’re too elderly or ailing to carry a watering can, or if your garden has special cultural or heritage values, or perhaps you have a pond that supports wildlife. If in doubt, contact Sydney Water for clarifcation, as fnes of $220 apply to individuals who break the rules.