Smart Water Saving Tips for Lawn and Gardens
Whether you’re directly affected by water restrictions or not, conserving water should be a priority for every Australian.
However, late last month the Tweed Shire Council released a media statement urging the Tweed areas such as Murwillumbah, Tweed Heads, Banora Point, Kingscliff, Pottsville and surrounding towns to look at saving water usage to delay restrictions.
Following the El Nino declaration by the Bureau of Meteorology and less-than-average rainfall now forecast for the Northern Rivers, water restrictions are inevitable.
What does this mean for your garden and lawn landscaping and maintenance services?
Reducing water usage in the garden doesn’t have to mean having to watch your plants wilt and turn brown, it just means being clever about the water you do use.
Here are our top 8 recommendations for lawn and garden maintenance services around Casuarina, Tweed Heads, Murwillumbah & Pottsville.
1. UTILISE RECYCLED OR GREY WATER
Reducing freshwater usage around the home not only saves vital community water supplies, it can also decrease household water bills. Purpose made hoses can be connected to washing machines and other outlet pipes to redirect Grey Water to your lawn as well as garden beds and veggie patches. Before using Grey Water in your garden, check what type of washing liquid or powder you use, as some chemicals will be harmful to plants.
2. DON’T USE WATER WHEN ANOTHER TOOL WILL DO THE JOB
Use a rake, broom or outdoor blower to clean paths and driveways rather than a hose, if you’re looking for a way to save water. Similarly, if the car’s looking a little dusty sitting in the driveway, resist the urge to grab the hose. Waterless car cleaning products on the market can help you save water and keep your car sparkling clean.
3. ONLY WATER YOUR LAWN WHEN IT NEEDS IT
If your lawn springs back after stepping on it, it doesn’t require watering. Also remember a solid ground watering is far better than a light sprinkle, as this encourages deeper roots, giving you a stronger, more drought resistant lawn.
4. WATER AT THE RIGHT TIME
Watering your garden in the early morning or evening reduces water loss through evaporation. Don’t put the sprinkler on if it’s too windy.
5. MULCHING PLANTS IS KEY TO RETAINING MOISTURE
As well as reducing evaporation and water run-off, good quality mulch will also provide nutrients to the plants and restrict weed growth.
6. LET YOUR LAWN GROW A LITTLE LONGER
When water is scarce, we recommend allowing your lawn to grow a little bit longer than usual. By keeping the lawn mower cutting height as high as possible, this will help the lawn retains all the moisture that it can.
7. GET A WATER SAVING NOZZLE
During Level 1 water restrictions, gardeners can only water before 10am and after 4pm and all hoses must be fitted with a trigger or water-saving attachment.
An easy way to save time while conserving water is by using a tap timer. Once set to a specific length of time, it can be left unattended and will automatically turn off, so you can get on with your day without accidentally overwatering your lawn.
8. DON’T WALK ON THE GRASS
No seriously. Reducing foot traffic can really help your lawn survive during a drought. The weight from the foot traffic compacts the soil, making it harder for the lawn’s roots to reach moist soil.
Recent Comments