The Benefits of Being WaterWise

There are three major benefits to being WaterWisein your garden:

A WaterWise Gardener will Save Money...Governments throughout Australia are reviewingthe way in which we pay for water. In the futurewhen we save water, we will save money. Byapplying the "WaterWise in the Garden" ideas,you have the potential to cut your outdoorwater use by up to 50% whilst still maintaining agreen, pleasant and rewarding garden.

A WaterWise Garden is a Low MaintenanceGarden...With smaller lawn areas, clever use of mulchingand landscaping and a well designed irrigationsystem, WaterWise gardens are a lot less workthan conventional gardens.

A WaterWise Garden is more naturaland helps to save our environment...A WaterWise Gardener helps to save ourenvironment by:• Reducing use of fertilisers and chemicals.• Reducing water run off to the stormwater

system (which runs straight intoour waterways).

• Helping to delay the need for further dams.

WaterWise Gardening...Benefiting the Individual

and the Community

The WaterWise in the Garden initiative hasbeen introduced to help gardeners reduce

their water consumption.

WaterWiseGardening

Want More Information?The "WaterWise in the Garden" initiativeis designed to help gardenersby providing expertinformation on how tomaintain a high qualitygarden but at the same timeconserve water. GoulburnValley Water is eager to helpgardeners be WaterWise.For further advice, informationand practical assistance onwater conservation in thegarden, speak to your localnursery industry professionalor call:

Goulburn Valley Water5832 0400

Victorian gardeners use406 800 000 litres of water a day

G.V

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Saves WaterSaves Work

Saves Money andSaves Our Environment

Brochures available in this series

• WaterWise Watering & Irrigation Systems

•Successful Pot Plants Using Less Water

• How to Identify Water Efficient Plants at a Glance

• You Can Have Beautiful Flowers and Still Conserve Water

•Saving Water, Work and Money with Your Existing Lawn

•Water Efficient Shrubs

WaterWise Watering and Irrigation SystemsHose and Sprinkler Users

Gardeners using hoses and sprinklers can be asefficient as those who have automatic irrigationsystems, simply by planning their watering andsticking to a pattern.

Tips for reducing water use when using a hose andsprinkler include:

• Use a tap timer so you can't overwater if youforget to turn off the hose.

• Make sure your hose, sprinkler and fittings are ingood condition. Repair leaks and tighten up thefittings.

• Use a part circle sprinkler close to buildings androads to avoid overspray onto paving.

Improving Water Efficiency With YourExisting Automatic Irrigation System

If you already have an automatic system, there aremany ways you can save water and still maintain ahealthy garden. Some tips include:

• Check the system for nozzle blockages, or to seeif foliage is interrupting spray patterns.

• Replace the nozzles if they are worn.• If you notice a dry patch, put in an extra

sprinkler - don't overwater the rest tocompensate.

• Check the operating pressure. The pressure canchange over the years and your system may needchanges to cope with a lower, or even higherpressure, to remain efficient.

What to Look For When Purchasinga New Irrigation System

An automatic irrigation system can be a great wayof increasing your leisure time, efficiently wateringyour garden and saving water.

A few things to check which will ensure trouble–free system operation and years of water savings.

• Ensure the person designing the system is anIrrigation Association of Australia (I.A.A.)member. This is a voluntary industryassociation, but they can help should anyconflict arise.

• Look carefully at the plan. It should haveseparate sections for lawns and gardens. Thesprinklers should throw away from the road,drive, house, paving etc.

• Get a written quote and buy a multi-programcontroller, which separates lawns and gardens.

• Fit a master valve and ensure the plumbingconnection is done by someone qualified.

• Find out the application rate of the differentsprinklers used in the system so that you canschedule your controller. Your irrigationspecialist can provide this information.

• Question the selection of sprinklers - are theybest suited to your application?

• Use micro-irrigation in garden beds anddrippers on native plants.

• If you are in a windy location, use a largedroplet size sprinkler to minimise wind drift.

• Ask for the features of the controller to befully explained. Make sure it lets you waterlawns and gardens separately.

For maximum water efficiency,change the setting each season.

There is a wide range of watering systems currentlyavailable on the market, ranging from thesophisticated, to the simple hose and sprinkler. Nomatter which system you use, there are a numberof basic rules to follow when using a gardenirrigation system:

• Water in the early evening or early morningbecause less water is lost through evaporation.(Never water in the heat of the day. It wasteswater and can lead to plant damage fromburning.)

• Water the roots, not the leaves of your plants.(Plants absorb water and nutrients throughtheir root system, so the most efficient way towater is to deliver the water direct to theroots.)

• Don’t water when it is raining. (People withautomatic watering systems need to payparticular attention to ensure these systems areswitched off during rainy periods.)

• Do not water paths or driveways.

Disease susceptible plants such as tomatoesshould only be watered in the morning so

leaves are as dry as possible at night.

WaterWise irrigation is about deliveringthe right amount of water; at the

right time; to the right place

How much water you apply and how often youirrigate depends on the type of plants, type of soil,climate and the time of year.

Your irrigation professional or local nursery will beable to offer you advice on how long to water andhow often to water your plants.