Waterwise guide to gardens
| More Waterwise information | |
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 | Waterwise Specialists |
| | Watering Exemptions |
Hydrozoning
Planning an irrigation system
Planting
Keeping gardens and lawns Waterwise
We only get one good chance to set up a home garden which will be Waterwise throughout its lifetime. That chance comes when the garden is about to be constructed on your brand new home site.
Whatever style of garden you may have in mind, the Waterwise planning and much of the construction you do now, will determine how efficiently you are able to water in the future. Many of the things which can be done at this stage, would be very difficult to put in place or change later.
Include the tips that follow, and your chosen garden will be healthy and Waterwise forever.
Please be aware there are water efficiency measures in place for Western Australia. If your plants need to be watered more frequently than the watering roster for your area allows, additional watering will need to be done with a hand held hose.
Planning your new garden
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Get tips on general design principles for your new garden |
Hydrozoning
Apply the principles of hydrozoning to plant selection and arrangement:
- A broad selection of plants may be used, but keep high water-demand plants to a minimum.
- Arrange plants having similar water requirements together (hydrozoning) and take this into account when deciding soil improvement and mulching, and when managing irrigation.
Waterwise Garden Centres label their plants with drop icons signifying the appropriate hydrozone, described in three categories:
- 3 drops - high water use plants.
- 2 drops - moderate water use plants.
- 1 drop - low water use plants.
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Fruit and vegetables
These are generally higher water use plants which need a sunny position. Site very tough shrubs on the exposed side to act as a windbreak and protect them. Slowing down the hot dry winds is a very important water saving feature. It will also prevent damage to the more delicate plants.
 | Watch the garden gurus video to find out how to make your own veggie garden |
Planning an irrigation system
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Find out how to plan your irrigation system |
Planting
Garden plants can be split into three groups according to their water needs.
- One drop plants are those with a low water requirement. They will only need occasional watering over Summer. No more than once a week and many perhaps once every two weeks or longer.
- Two drop plants have a moderate water requirement. These plants will need to be watered every 3 to 7 days during Summer.
- Three drop plants have a high water requirement. These plants will need to be watered every 1 to 2 days during Summer.
- The above ratings assume that the plants are well established in an improved soil.
- All will need less frequent watering at cooler and wetter times of the year.
Waterwise Plants for Perth is a searchable database that contains close to a thousand freely available plants, that once established will thrive on one watering a week or less. The website contains detailed notes and photographs on each plant.
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Find Waterwise Plants for Perth |
To find the watering roster for your area see the 'What are my watering days' page under 'Water Efficiency Measures'.
Keeping gardens and lawns Waterwise
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Tips to keep your garden Waterwise |