Saving water in your garden

Households are the biggest users of public water - using 71% and therefore offer the greatest potential to save water. Approximately 44% of household water is used outside the home.

Climate change and the increasing demand for water as the population grows, means that we all need to work together to reduce our water use. Rainfall in WA has been declining since the 1970's, which means less water coming into our dams and less water filtering naturally into our groundwater sources.

Developing new sources alone is not sufficient, now more than ever it is essential that each and every household contributes to reducing water use.

There are several ways you can plan and maintain your garden and outdoor areas so they use less water, but are still attractive and colourful places to be.

Gardens and lawns

Improve your soil

Getting the soil right is the key to healthy plant growth. Apply a soil improver that has a soil wetting agent in it.  The healthier the soil, the more drought resistant your plants will be - and the solution is soil improvement. Sandy soil, typical in WA, is very nutrient poor and does not hold water well.

  • Add organic matter and soil amendments and the difference is huge.
  • The best soil improvers are those based on organic matter. Animal manures, worm farm residue, bagged soil improvers and soil conditioners are all good sources of organic matter.
  • The easiest time to improve soil is when planting, when it can be thoroughly mixed with the top 30cm of soil. But you can apply from the top to an established garden. Just spread a layer of compost and then cover it with a layer of waterwise mulch.
  • Lawns will also respond positively to organic matter. A think layer of compost spread over a lawn will encourage healthy growth.

 Read more about soil improvement
  

Soil wetting agents break down the water resistance that soils and lawns build up and allow water to penetrate to the roots. Apply wetting agents to lawns and gardens in mid spring and again in mid summer. Always water in wetting agents until they foam, which means they are activated and doing their job.

To make the most of your wetting agent apply soil improvement and mulch!

Video tip: soil improvement and planting new plants

Choose waterwise plants

If you are planting new plants, choose waterwise plants, such as natives that have their origins in WA. Waterwise plants are perfectly adapted for our climate and require a lot less water than other plants.

Visit our Waterwise plants for WA directory to find the plants best suited for your region.

We also have a range of water saving gardening guides to help you water your garden efficiently, look after your plants and create different styles of gardens to suit your region.


Hydrozoning - group plants with similar water requirements together

Plants have different water requirements. Hydrozoning means placing plants with similar water requirements together to enable efficient irrigation system design and use of water

Garden plants can be split into four groups according to their watering needs;

  • Zero drop plants require no watering. They are typically native species indigenous to WA.
  • One drop plants have a low water requirement. They will only need occasional watering over summer, once a week to not at all.
  • Two drop plants have a moderate water requirement every three to seven days during summer.
  • Three drop plants have a high water requirement every one to two days during summer.

Apply 5 - 10cm of mulch to your garden 

A good water saving mulch can reduce evaporation and is enormously beneficial for all plants. A good way to check if mulch is waterwise is if it hurts bare feet when you walk on it - it's good mulch. When choosing mulch look for products displaying the Waterwise Approved and Smart Approved WaterMark symbols. They are the preferred choice because of their relevance to Western Australia’s climatic conditions and water efficient qualities.

'Soft' non-waterwise mulches should be avoided as they are composed of fine materials that can pack down to make an absorbent, impenetrable layer that prevents water movement through to the soil.

Apply between 5 - 10cm of good waterwise mulch to reduce evaporation.

In addition to saving water, other benefits of mulch include:

  • It will protect and improve your soil.
  • Reduces plant stress.
  • Reduces weed growth.
  • Prevents wind and water erosion.
  • Improves the appearance of your garden area.

Video tip: mulching


Lawns

A significant amount of water can be used on lawns. Good design, thorough preparation and selecting waterwise varieties can significantly reduce the water required.

When planting a new lawn, choose a lawn that requires low water use and is heat and drought tolerant. Warm season grasses such as Couch, Buffalo, Zoysia, Saltene or Kikuyu respond well to the hot summers in WA.

Establishing a new lawn

Organic matter mixed through with the top 15 cm of a sandy soil will dramatically improve both water and nutrient holding capacity of the soil, enabling longer period between watering. Do this before a lawn is established. After installation, the lawn needs frequent application of small amounts of water.

If you are establishing a new lawn you may apply for an exemption if you meet the criteria.

Make your verge waterwise

There are many verge lawns that aren't being utitlised even though a lot of time is being spent watering, fertilising, mowing, and weeding them. Make your verge more water efficient by replacing surplus lawn. A verge planted with waterwise plants or a waterwise ground cover is a much better option and is not that difficult or expensive to do!


 How to create a more water efficient verge
  

Watering and irrigation systems

  • Make sure you know your rostered watering days and stick to the rules. They can change from season to season.
  • Only water once on your rostered watering day, either before 9am or after 6pm. It is generally best to water in the morning which allows the water to soak to the roots and be available to the plant throughout the day when they need it most.
  • For pop up sprinklers, try to keep to 10 minutes per station*.  

*Different types of sprinklers have different watering rates and therefore different run times. Watering times for your sprinkler*

Water from your irrigation system can be wasted in three ways: through evaporation and wind drift, putting water where it is not needed, such as onto paths or buildings and watering for too long. It is important to regularly maintain your irrigation system to avoid water being wasted unnecessarily.

  • Don't overwater on your rostered day/s. It's actually a waste. Rosters are designed with our climate in mind. Every time we water we should water just enough to penetrate the top 30cm of soil, where the feeder roots are.
  • Water efficiently by watering as close to the roots as possible - where the plant can use it.
  • Replace worn nozzles and broken seals and make sure you are not wasting water - water the garden and not the road.
  • During winter, your irrigation system should be turned off.
  • It's easy to 'set and forget' your irrigation so it is important to continue to check that the system is working correctly. It's also important to check your back up battery which it relies on when there is a power surge.

  How to program your irrigation system
  

Get a trigger nozzle for your hose or use a watering can

A running hose can waste water by watering things that don’t need watering. Get a trigger nozzle or use a watering can.

Avoid using a hose to wash down hard surfaces such as your patio or driveway, use a broom instead to save buckets of water.


Hardscapes

There are many options for hardscapes, or non-grassed/garden areas. Some examples are:

  • artificial turf
  • brick paving
  • crushed brick
  • rainbow stones

When choosing a hardscape option it’s important to consider the implications this choice will have on your house and garden. For example, hardscaped areas can get very hot, so are often best placed under shade or in areas where they will not have a heating affect on your house.

When designing your garden, be it new or existing; choose options that are fit for purposes and best suit your individual needs, lifestyle and budget.

 

Alternative sources

Garden bores

With over 40% of your water used in your garden, you could save precious drinking water by installing a garden bore. Why not share a bore with your neighbour? You can share the cost of installing the bore and save money and water. Garden bores draw water from shallow groundwater aquifers and are generally a better alternative to scheme water for use on gardens, as they reduce the need to use our precious drinking water for irrigating gardens and lawns. To find out if a bore is suitable for your garden consult the Department of Water's Groundwater Atlas for Perth at water.wa.gov.au

Rainwater tanks

The average 2,000 litre capacity rainwater tank can save up to 26,000 litres of water each year. These water savings could be significantly increased (up to 59,000 litres) if the tank is plumbed in for internal uses such as clothes washing or toilet flushing.

Greywater re-use systems

A greywater system can help you save water by irrigating your garden with water from the bath, shower or washing machine. For more information about greywater re-use systems contact your local council or the Water Unit at the Department of Health.


Use a pool cover

Using a pool cover not only keeps your pool warmer and cleaner, it also cuts the evaporation rate between swims. During summer, it can save up to around 55 litres of water a day!

With more than your entire pool's volume of water being lost every year through evaporation, you can save water and money by regularly using a pool cover.

When looking for pool covers and other products outside the home, look out for products displaying the Waterwise Approved and Smart Approved WaterMark symbols. They are the preferred choice because of their relevance to Western Australia’s climatic conditions and because of their water efficiency qualities. 


  Find a list of waterwise products for outside the home