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waterwise
                               GARDENING IN THE TOP END




Please take one
                  FREE!
proudly brought
to you by Power and
  Water Corporation
  and the Nursery &
Garden Industry NT
contents
Waterwise gardening        4
Getting it right
from the start             6
Waterwise irrigation      10
Looking after your lawn   12
When to water             13
Leaks                     14
Pools                     15
Native waterwise plants   16
Making your garden
waterwise                 18
Nursery & Garden
Industry NT               21
Power and Water
Corporation               22
More information          23




                                                   3
                                          waterwise
                                           gardening
waterwise
         gardening
In the Top End, people use more than
twice as much water as those living in
other Australian capital cities. That makes us
some of the biggest water users in Australia.

With increasing populations          The garden is a great place
and climate change variability,      to start saving water.
now is the time for people
                                     Being waterwise in the
to start thinking about
                                     garden doesn’t mean you
conserving water by
                                     have to compromise on
using it more efficiently.
                                     having a beautiful garden.
Up to 65% of our water use           In fact, if you follow the
is outside the house, mostly         tips in this book, your garden
in gardens.                          could look better than ever.




    planning your garden
    By planning your garden          • Choose plants suitable for     • Think about growing
    carefully, you can make it         the conditions in which          suitable trees that will
    look great, be waterwise and       they will be placed.             provide shade for your lawn.
    avoid problems years down        • Group plants that                The lawn is a big water user
    the track.                         have similar watering            and shade will help reduce
                                       requirements. If they’re         its water needs, as well as
    In the planning stages
                                       together, it will be easier      cooling down your house.
    you should:
                                       to water them more             • Think about how tall and
    • Consider the conditions
                                       efficiently and encourage         how wide each plant will
      in different parts of your
                                       stronger plants.                 grow. Try to avoid growing
      garden. Some areas may
                                     • Choose water efficient            trees that will eventually
      receive more sun or shade,
                                       plants – ask your local          reach powerlines, or plants
      some may be exposed to
                                       nursery for advice on            that will make accessing
      wind, wet or dry conditions.
                                       plant selection.                 the power or water
                                                                        meters difficult.
4
waterwise
 gardening
when
                                                         to water?
                                                         The best time to water
                                                         your garden is between
                                                         dusk and dawn. The
                                                         optimum time to water
                                                         is early morning prior to
                                                         sunrise, as the water will
                                                         be available to the plant
                                                         during the day when it
                                                         is needed.




• Plan your reticulation system
  to cater for your immediate
  needs and possible garden
                                  NORTHERN
  expansion. Draw a map of        TERRITORY
  your irrigation lines to make
  maintenance easier.
                                  GOVERNMENT – 2030
• Visit your local irrigation
                                  SUSTAINABLE LIVING
  specialist for advice on        TARGET:
  the most water efficient
                                  Reduce the amount of water that
  irrigation and water
                                  the Territory households use by 20%
  management programs.
                                  by 2015 and a further 10% by 2020,
• Think about how much lawn
                                  compared to 2009 consumption levels.
  you actually need. Garden
  beds require less maintenance
  and use less water.
                                                                                      5
                                                                  waterwise
                                                                   gardening
getting it   By planning your
              garden carefully,
              you can make it look


right from
              great, be waterwise
              and avoid problems
              years down the track.
              Top End soils are generally


  the start   sandy or clay loams, have low
              water holding capacities and
              high percolation rates. This
              means they don’t retain water
              and nutrients very well, which
              can affect the health of plants.

              The secret to creating a
              beautiful water efficient
              garden in the Top End is
              getting the condition of your
              soil right, so it is full of healthy
              micro-organisms to help feed
              and maintain the vigour of
              your plants.

              A good way to test whether
              your soil is nutrient rich is to
              see if you have worms. Lots
              of big worms in your soil
              indicates good healthy soil.

              Two easy ways of improving
              your soil condition are mulch
              and organic fertilisers.




6
 waterwise
  gardening
mulch
Mulch is a surface cover that    The general rules when mulching in the Top End are:
you put around your plants       • Mulch at the start of the dry season. This way you benefit
to retain water, fertilise and     by retaining some of the moisture in the soil from the wet
beautify your garden. Mulch        season, and the mulch will not break down as quickly as what
is also good at inhibiting         it would do in the wet. Otherwise, you can still mulch at any
weed growth.                       time of the year.
Generally mulch is organic       • Water and fertilise your garden beds before laying the mulch
waste that has been broken         to ensure they are moist and healthy.
down until it is full of         • Lay 150 mm (15 cm) of mulch around your plant and water in
nutrients and ready for            well to initiate water movement through the mulch layer.
the garden.
                                 • Do not let the mulch touch the base of the plant – this may
Mulch is essential in all          rot your plant.
gardens because of its ability   • Organic mulches break down over time improving soil
to retain moisture, reduce         structure, so they should be reapplied at least once a year to
evaporation and as it breaks       maintain their effectiveness. Finer mulches will break down
down, it adds valuable             quicker than coarse materials.
nutrient content to your soil.

Mulches include woodchips,
hay, straw and greenwaste.
Mulch ideally should be             save your clippings
composted or aged to reduce         Grass clippings are great for your garden in the Top End.
the risk of burning and             You can either spread them finely on your garden
depleting nutrients from            beds straight from the lawn mower, add them
the soil.                           to a compost bin or pile in your yard and wait for
Decorative gravels have             it to break down so you can use as fertiliser.
become popular as a ground
cover however they do not
improve the soil and can
be expensive.




                                                                                                    7
                                                                                 waterwise
                                                                                  gardening
fertilisers
 Fertiliser will add nutrients        Some ideal fertilisers in the Top End are:
 to your soil which will ensure
 better plant growth and              Manures
 water retention as well as           Aged chicken manure
 increasing resistance to pests       Use in light, regular doses as it is high in nitrogen and
 and diseases.                        may burn some sensitive plants like ferns. Water in well.
 It is best to dig fertilisers into   Cow or horse manure
 the soil or place beneath your       Great for building up the organic content of your gardens
 mulch to ensure optimum              and encouraging micro-organisms.
 up-take by the plants.
                                      Prone to weed infestation so remove any weeds if they
 Slow release organic fertilisers     germinate. Use as a light mulch and water in well.
 are the best and most
 sustainable products to use          Pig manure
 in the Top End. Inorganic            A great nutrient rich manure if available. Apply as a
 fertilisers may be used              top-dressing around the base of your plants and water in.
 to supplement any trace
                                      Packaged organic fertilisers
 elements that may be lacking
 in your garden. Organic              Blood and bone
 fertilisers are usually              An old standard that still provides great nutrient value
 manures or composts.                 for your garden. Follow product recommendations or
                                      seek advice from your local nursery professional.
 You can dig fertilisers into your
 soil or just lay them on top.
 Either way they will break down
 and build up your soil health.




8
 waterwise
  gardening
Compost
Pelletised chicken manure       You can buy some great bulk compost products locally or
An industry standard            easily make it yourself. Generally compost is a range of organic
that is widely used. Great      material, such as grass, food (no meat) and garden scraps put
nutrient value to encourage     together and broken down. The end result is a nutrient rich
micro-organisms. Follow         fertiliser to add to your garden. Seek advice on composting
product recommendations         techniques from your local nursery professional.
or seek advice from your
local nursery professional.     Other soil additives
Liquid organic fertilisers      It is advisable to monitor your soil pH to see whether it is
The most effective and          acidic or alkaline, and incorporate additives recommended
efficient way of supplying       by your local nursery professional if required.
nutrients to your garden.
                                Waterlogging of the soil
There are many products
on the market including         Waterlogging is considered when the soil’s pores are filled
fish emulsion and liquified       with water, leaving no room for air. Of course, without the
seaweed products.               fundamental ingredient oxygen required by plant roots, the
                                plant will not survive. This happens by killing the roots directly,
Grass clippings                 or allows the plants to become vulnerable to disease producers
Grass clippings are a great     such as pythium and phytophthora.
addition to your compost.       Waterlogged plants generally appear wilted, stunted, a little
Place light coverings of        more yellow than normal and even develop dark spots on the
clippings straight onto your    leaves. Prolonged water logging can cause loss of leaves and
garden beds to help with        death of root tips, or the entire plant. If the area is flooded during
weed control or incorporate     the wet season, investigate planting sedges or plants that thrive
into your compost heap for      in waterlogged or seasonally inundated areas.
later use. Generally you can
use grass clippings in the      If some of your plants begin to die during the first days of heat
Top End as compost all year     after a period of cool weather (dry season), former waterlogging
round. The only time to avoid   could be suspected. This would be an ideal time to investigate
using them is when your         and correct prior to replanting the area.
grass is seeding.               Waterlogging indicators:
                                • Continuous wet surface
                                • Moss or slimy algae growing on the surface
            organic             • Kills or stunts your plants especially in the wet season
          fertilisers           • Foul odour (similar to rotten egg) when you dig into the surface
        are the best            • Pockets of water below the surface
           and most             To overcome and prevent waterlogging, speak to an irrigation
        sustainable             specialist. You may require a simple surface drain filled with
        products to             gravel or a special drainage system to suit the natural flow of
                                water. Another thing to consider is that poor soil structures and
          use in the            garden beds of deep clay can be contributing factors to drainage
           Top End.             problems. In this case, speak to your local nursery for advice.
                                                                                                        9
                                                                                  waterwise
                                                                                   gardening
waterwise
                                   irrigation
                                   Another key to a beautiful and waterwise garden
                                   is a good irrigation system. There are many
                                   different ways to water your garden and many
                                   things you should take into consideration when
 hand                              choosing your irrigation system.

 watering                                                           micro
 This method can be relaxing
 and very efficient. When doing                                      sprayers/
 any hand watering, it is best
 to have a trigger nozzle. They
                                                                    misters
 give you excellent control and                                     Micro sprayers or misters
 have a variety of spray styles                                     are not as water efficient as
 to choose from. Trigger nozzles                                    drippers. Water loss is more
 ensure you don’t waste water                                       likely due to the wind and
 when moving between plants.                                        evaporation. They will still get
                                                                    the job done and your plants
                                                                    watered if watering occurs
                                                                    during early morning prior
                                                                    to sunrise and winds.

                                                                    mini-
                                   drippers                         sprinklers
                                                                    Primarily designed for
                                   Drippers are by far the most
                                                                    under-tree irrigation in
                                   water efficient way to water
 sprinklers                        plants in your garden. They
                                                                    orchards, these sprinklers
                                                                    are recommended for use in
                                   slowly disperse water directly
 There is a large range of                                          garden beds to deliver water
                                   to the roots of your plants
 sprinklers that you can attach                                     efficiently. There are many
                                   and come in 2, 4 and 8 litre
 to your hose and move easily                                       types available, however
 around your garden. These         capacity per hour. Drippers
                                                                    several have interchangeable
 sprinklers are usually cheap      are easy to install and
                                                                    nozzles or deflectors that
 and can get to all the spots      maintain, however it is still
                                                                    allow for the watering of a
 you need to reach. Use a tap      recommended that you install
                                                                    single plant initially to a far
 timer so you don’t waste water    an in-line filter and flush your
                                                                    larger area as required.
 by forgetting to turn them off.   dripper system at the start
 Avoid watering in the heat of     of the dry season to avoid
 the day and when it is windy.     blockages and ant nesting.
10
 waterwise
  gardening
pop-up
sprinklers
These sprinklers are installed to make watering your lawn easy
and automated. It is essential to have a timer on your pop-ups to    perforated
make sure you don’t forget to turn them off. Plan the installation
of pop-ups well so the spray reaches your lawn and is not
                                                                     and porous
wasted on pavement or roads.                                         hoses
A new type of pop-up sprinkler is now available on the market.       These hoses allow water to
It has an adjustable radius to provide an even distribution of       be applied slowly and can
water. For more information on new water saving products in          be moved to hard-to-water
the garden visit www.smartwatermark.org                              places. Porous hoses can
                                                                     be buried to supply water
Most irrigation specialists and hardware stores supply
                                                                     directly to the plant’s root
free fact sheets on designing and installing pop up systems.
                                                                     zone and are great for narrow
A well designed pop up system is the most efficient way to
                                                                     garden beds.
water lawns.



  drippers are                     timers
     by far the                    Every waterwise garden needs
    most water                     an irrigation timer whether it
                                   is a manual timer, or a fully
  efficient way                     automatic system run by an
      to water                     irrigation controller. They are
      plants in                    essential to ensure watering
                                   is done efficiently and you
 your garden.                      don’t forget to turn your
   they slowly                     system off. You may find that
                                   installing an automatic
      disperse                     irrigation system will pay for
water directly                     itself in a relatively short
                                   period of time.
to the roots of
   your plants

                                                                                                     11
                                                                                 waterwise
                                                                                  gardening
The typical Top End
      garden has lots of
  lawn because it suits
      our active outdoor
                            looking
     lifestyle and warm
climate. Although they
 look terrific and make
                            after your
   great living areas for
people, lawns are high
       maintenance and
           water hungry.
                            lawn
                            People in the Top End region often over-water their lawns.
                            Here are some ways you can maintain a beautiful healthy
                            lawn without wasting water.

                            When establishing a lawn:
                            • Make sure you have good quality topsoil. Speak to a
                              landscaping specialist to find out how you can improve
                              the soil quality before planting your lawn.
                            • Too often people don’t lay enough topsoil. Make sure
                              it is at least 100 to 150 mm (10 to 15 cm) deep as this
                              will ensure sufficient room for grass roots to keep
                              out of the heat so they can forage for water.
                            • Pick a water efficient species of grass. Generally
                              Paspalum sp. (crab grass) and Zoysia spp. ( zoysia grass)
                              are the most water efficient lawns for the Top End.
                            • Do you need so much lawn? Think of areas where you
                              can pave or use ground covers instead of having lawn.

                            Maintaining your lawn:
                            • Turn your sprinklers off in the wet season.
                            • Don’t mow your lawn too short. Longer blades of grass
                              shade the roots and reduce evaporation.
                            • Fertilise your lawn twice a year with a good quality slow
                              release fertiliser. Avoid fertilisers with high nitrogen levels,
                              as this induces excessive growth and water uptake.
                            • Water only when your lawn needs it. Once or twice a week
                              is usually sufficient through the dry season.
                            • Coring your lawn and adding gypsum to clay soils will aid
                              root growth and improve your lawn’s health and durability.
 12
   waterwise
    gardening
when to water               Because most Top End soils don’t hold moisture
should                      well, the rule of watering less frequently and
                            for longer periods does not apply to Darwin
i turn                      and Katherine region gardens.
off the                     However, these rules still apply:
irrigation?                 • Water between dusk and dawn. Watering your garden
                              at night minimises water loss through evaporation.
Turn your irrigation
system off during the       • Water vegetables around dawn to avoid fungal disease problems.
majority of the wet         • Depending on your soil type, gradient of your property,
season and let the rains      amount of mulch and irrigation type, generally you do not
water the garden for you.     need to water for longer than 15 to 20 minutes at a time.
You should only need          Any more than that and the water will be wasted because
to periodically turn the      it will be draining straight through the soil past the root
irrigation system back on     zone of your plants taking valuable nutrients with it.
during extended periods
of no rain.                 renting
                            Whether you are renting or own your home, you can always
                            act waterwise.
                            Simply try tap timers or aerators in your yard.


   depending on             can households in
  your soil type,
      gradient of           the wet/dry tropics
  your property,            use less water?
       amount of            Darwin experiences a short but wet, wet season and then many
      mulch and             months of very low rainfall. Similarly Mackay has periods of low
                            rainfall however by planting appropriately and undertaking
 irrigation type,
                            water efficient practices outside, have lower water use.
   generally you
  do not need to            Darwin and Mackay are similiar in size, climate and rainfall patterns.

water for longer
      than 15-20
    minutes at a
            time.            darwin                              mackay, qld

                             493
                             65% outdoors
                                                Litres per
                                                person per day   247
                                                                 50% outdoors*
                                                                                     Litres per
                                                                                     person per day



                                                                 * Queensland average.
                                                                                                      13
                                                                                 waterwise
                                                                                  gardening
Our family was able to
                                  leaks
                                  A tap that drips once every second wastes
                                  30 litres of water daily. If every home had just
reduce our water usage in         two such dripping taps, we would waste over
the dry season from around        one whole Olympic swimming pool worth of
3,000 L per day to 2,000          water EVERY DAY. A cracked or broken pipe
L per day just by reducing        can waste several thousand litres a day.
the running time of our
irrigation system and fixing       Use these tricks to find                  Quick guide to checking
a few broken sprinklers.          hidden leaks:                            for leaks:
We found that by reducing
the time each station on          ✓ hissing, dripping
                                    Be alert to any water
                                                                           ✓    Turn off all taps and
                                                                                water-using devices at
the irrigation system runs
                                       or running when                          the property.
by 5 minutes (down to
                                       appliances are off.
15 minutes per station), we                                                ✓    Write down numbers
were able to save lots of         ✓    Check kitchen,                           on the meter.
water and that our garden              bathroom and laundry
                                       for dripping taps and
                                                                           ✓    If the dial is not visibly
continued to thrive.                                                            moving, wait for at
                                       washing machine and                      least 15 minutes (the
- Trevor and Maree from Leanyer
                                       dishwasher connections.                  longer the better as
                                       Don’t forget hot                         small leaks may take
                                       water systems and air                    longer to show).
                                       conditioning units too.
                                  ✓ Unstable paving or                     ✓    Write down
                                                                                numbers again –
                                       concrete and damp                        have they changed?
                                       patches on walls may
                                       also suggest you have               ✓    If they have, you may
                                                                                have a leak. Ring
                                       a leak.
                                                                                a plumber to fix
                                                                                those leaks.




                                  L
                                  Look out for wet patches in your garden or unusually
                                  v
                                  vigorous/green garden growth. Check and maintain
                                  y
                                  your irrigation system and if installing new irrigation,
                                  g
                                  get some professional advice.

                                  B
                                  Broken irrigation heads, while technically not a leak,
                                  c
                                  can waste a lot of water and water areas such as concrete
                                  t
                                  that don’t need it. The best way to check this is when the
                                  irrigation is on, adjust and replace sprinkler heads.

                                  E
                                  Ella Patterson Water Engineer, Power and Water Corporation
Since moving into our Nightcliff home a few years ago,
we have been working towards reducing our water
consumption, especially in our yard.
                                                                      pools
                                                                      Pools can account for nearly
We have a large tropical garden and by planting plants
                                                                      one fifth of a household’s
with similar water needs together, we have been able
                                                                      water use. Some evaporates,
to keep our water use down. However, we do need to
                                                                      some leaks and some goes to
supplement our irrigation with some hand watering
                                                                      backwash. If you have a pool:
occasionally, but we can really target the areas using
less water overall. We also replaced our irrigation system            • Shade the pool to
which was full of leaks that we just couldn’t find.                      reduce evaporation.

Our large swimming pool is positioned in full sun                     • Use a pool cover to
and required regular top ups due to evaporation. Since                  reduce evaporation
installing shade cloth over our pool, we have really                    and keep the pool clean.
noticed that we don’t have to top it up as often.                     • Keep the pool clean
We have managed to reduce our water consumption                         and empty the skimmer
from about 500L per person per day to 350L per person                   basket daily to reduce
per day. It goes up a little in the dry but we hardly use any           filter back flushing.
water in the wet season when we don’t need to irrigate                • Try a cartridge filter.
at all. Our irrigation system is switched off completely              • Experiment with how
during the wet.                                                         little you can run the
                                              - Amy from Nightcliff     filter pump and still
                                                                        maintain a healthy pool.




                                                                                                      15
                                                                                   waterwise
                                                                                    gardening
native
              waterwise
                 plants




16
 waterwise
  gardening
Next time you      Some great ornamental Top End natives include:
   introduce new       Acacia gonocarpa                Grevillea wickhamii
    plants to your     Acacia nuperrima                Holly Grevillea
 garden, consider      Acacia wickhamii
  using natives to                                     Peltophorum pterocarpum
the Top End. They      Alphitonia excelsa              Yellow Flame Tree
 are well adapted      Red Ash or Soap Tree            Pleomele angustifloia
       to the local    Alstonia actinophylla           Native Dracaena
 conditions, need      Milkwood                        Melastoma malabathricum
   less water and
                                                       Native Lasiandra
       will attract    Banksia dentata
           wildlife.   Swamp Banksia                   Mimusops elengi
                                                       Mimusops
                       Calytrix existipulata
                       Turkey Bush                     Murraya paniculata
                                                       Murraya
                       Chrysopogon elongatus
                       Tall Tamil Grass                Syzygium armstrongii
                                                       White Bush Apple
                       Curcuma australasica
                                                       (suitable for large gardens,
                       Native Ginger
                                                       seek advice from your local
                       Grevillea dryandri              nursery professional)
                       Dryander’s Grevillea
                       Grevillea formosa
                       Mt Brockman Grevillea
                       Grevillea pteridifolia
                       Fern-leaved Grevillea




                       for more information on
                       native plants and gardening
                       in the Top End, visit
                       Greening Australia’s website
                       www.greeningaustralia.org.au
                                                                                      17
                                                                    waterwise
                                                                     gardening
making
              your garden
                waterwise



              tropical gardens
              Most established gardens in      • Consider reducing the size
              Darwin are tropical. A typical     of your lawn and replacing
              tropical garden consists of        it with mulched areas.
              palms, lots of lawn and other    • Use drippers rather
              lush water-hungry plants.          than sprayers.
              There are ways you can reduce    Some waterwise plants
              the water needs of these         for a tropical garden are:
              gardens, while ensuring they
                                               • Native ornamental species.
              still look great:
                                               • Xerophytic (drought
              • Consider removing
                                                 resistant) plant species.
                some plants and replacing
                them with more                 • Non-invasive exotic species
                water-efficient species.          that are adapted to our
                                                 wet/dry climatic zone.
              • Make sure garden beds
                are mulched.




18
 waterwise
  gardening
contemporary gardens
                  In recent years new housing       • Mulch all plants, even the
                  estates have boomed in Darwin       ones in pots.
                  and Palmerston, creating a new    • If building your garden from
                  style of garden. The Darwin         scratch, installing efficient
                  contemporary is typically on a      and suitable automatic
                  smaller block and incorporates      watering systems that are
                  a mixture of potted and garden      well maintained, can save
                  bed plants, some lawn as well       you time and money.
                  as ground covers, pavers and
                  water features.                   Some waterwise plants for
                                                    a Top End contemporary
                  These gardens are designed        garden are:
                  to be low maintenance and
                                                    • Cycads         • Yuccas
                  simple in style. They have the
                  potential to be very water        • Pony Tails     • Agaves
                  efficient if planned correctly:    • Spider Lily    • Rhoeo
                  • Have less lawn and more         • Natives        • Vincas
                    pavers and groundcovers.        • Dianella       • Draceanas
                  • Plant water-efficient            • Liriope
                    species in the garden
photo courtesy
of in-scape-out     and pots where possible.



                  bush gardens
                  Typically found in the rural      • Only water what you
                  areas of the Darwin and             have to – try to let nature
                  Katherine regions, the bush         take care of the rest of
                  garden is a mix of natives,         your block.
                  tropical and potted exotic        • Retain as much native
                  species. Generally the areas        vegetation as possible.
                  around the house will be well
                                                    • Think about replacing
                  manicured and structured, and
                                                      thirsty plants with suitable
                  the remainder of the block will
                                                      natives near your home –
                  grow freely, usually being low
                                                      they need less water and
                  maintenance as it consists of
                                                      will attract more wildlife.
                  native trees and shrubs.
                                                    Some waterwise plants for
                  Some waterwise tips for the
                                                    the bush garden are:
                  bush garden are:
                                                    • Acacias
                  • Use a timer on sprinklers
                    so you don’t forget to turn     • Grevilleas
                    them off.                       • Eucalypts
                  • Use lawn clippings for
                    mulch and compost.
                                                                                     19
                                                                    waterwise
                                                                     gardening
potted gardens
              As the apartment                • Select water efficient
              development boom continues        species – they don’t
              in Darwin, many people are        have to be native.
              leaving their houses and big    • Use a saucer on the base
              gardens for high-rise living.     of the pot. This keeps
              This doesn’t mean missing         your floor or pavers clean,
              out on having a garden.           as well as holding extra
              Potted gardens are practical,     moisture for the plant to
              transportable, easy to            absorb. Be careful not to
              maintain and look great.          have water permanently
              These tips will help you          in the saucers as many
              stay waterwise:                   plants will rot.

              • Pot your plants into a        • Remember to fertilise your
                premium potting mix             potted plants regularly
                made to the Australian          with a suitable slow
                Standard – it has a higher      release plant food.
                water holding capacity
                                              Some waterwise plants
                so you won’t need to
                                              for the potted garden are:
                water as often.
                                              • Cycads
              • Choose larger and deeper
                pots – shallow pots will be   • Agaves
                prone to greater moisture     • Draceanas
                loss from breeze and          • Frangipani
                evaporation.
                                              • Yuccas
              • Hand water the plants
                                              • Pony Tail
                using a trigger nozzle on
                a hose or a watering can.     • Bromeliads

              • Mulch around the plant        • Bougainvillea
                base to retain moisture.      • Jade Plant
                                              • Desert Rose
                                              • Succulents




 to create a beautiful waterwise
 Top End garden, see your local
 nursery, garden centre or garden
 professional for the right advice.
20
 waterwise
  gardening
nursery
and garden
industry nt
The Nursery & Garden Industry NT (NGINT) is the peak body
representing nurseries and garden centres as well as allied traders.
NGINT also represents a growing number of businesses from the
amenity horticulture sector including landscaping designers, suppliers
and contractors, irrigation services and garden maintenance.

                      NGINT’s goal is to “build        The NGINT is committed
                      better businesses” by helping    to promoting and educating
                      and supporting members to        the industry and community
                      improve their performance        about sustainable water use.
                      and professionalism.             Gardening is an important
                                                       part of our outdoor lifestyle
                      Through the national
                                                       and it is also essential for
                      Nursery and Garden Industry
                                                       tourism, recreation, leisure
                      Association (NGIA), the
                                                       and health.
                      nursery and garden industry
                      has been proactive with          It is vital that everyone takes
                      initiatives to address the       responsibility for sustainable
                      industry’s key water issues.     water use, and in the garden
                      The industry, along with the     that means thinking about
                      gardening public, is perceived   efficient watering techniques,
                      to be a significant user of       the quality of the soil and
                      water. The National Industry     plant selection.
                      Water Policy has been
                                                       For more information
                      presented to key industry
                                                       about the NGINT and NGIA,
                      stakeholders and community
                                                       and gardening tips visit
                      groups and provides a
                                                       www.ngia.com.au or
                      strategic framework for
                                                       phone 08 8983 3233.
                      developing ongoing
                      projects and partnerships
                      on water issues.
                                                                                         21
                                                                    waterwise
                                                                     gardening
power
     and water
     corporation
                                 Around 65% of household         consumption and impact
                                 water is used in the garden     on the environment.
                                 and this is where people can
                                                                 Power and Water has
                                 make real water savings.
                                                                 teamed up with the
                                 Top End residents are some      Nursery & Garden Industry
                                 of the biggest water users in   NT so its customers have
                                 the country, and Power and      access to the right advice
                                 Water is striving to help its   on waterwise gardening.
                                 customers reduce their water
                                 custom


                                   for more information on
                                    ho
                                    how to save energy and water,
                                    v
                                    visit www.powerwater.com.au,
                                     c
                                     call 1800 245 092 or
                                     p
                                     pick up a free copy of the
                                      green guide from our
                                       customer service centres.



 Darwin                          Palmerston                      Katherine
 Shop 28,                        Shop 21,                        Ground Floor,
 Ground Floor, Mitchell Centre   Palmerston Shopping Centre      Government Centre
 55 Mitchell Street              10 Temple Terrace               5 First Street

22
 waterwise
  gardening
Smart Approved Watermark
                                                   SAWM stands for Smart Approved WaterMark. It is a voluntary
                                                   label used on outdoor products such as pool covers or trigger
                                                   nozzle hoses. It indicates that the product is water saving
                                                   but does not give it a rating. For more information visit




                   information
                                                   www.smartwatermark.org

                                                   savewater!® Alliance Inc
                                                   savewater! has a range of water conservation information
                                                   including a home water use calculator which allows you to see
                                                   where you are using the majority of water in and around your
                                                   home and how this compares to the Northern Territory average.
                                                   www.savewater.com.au

                                                   Greening Australia
                                                   Greening Australia is passionate about protecting and
                                                   restoring the health of our land. Native plants are available
                                                   for sale from their nursery. Visit greeningaustralia.org.au

                                                   Acknowledgements
                   more


                                                   Allora Gardens Nursery
                                                   David Silva – Silva Photography
                                                   Good Gardens with less water by Kevin Handreck
                                                   (CSIRO Publishing Gardening Guides, 2008)
                                                   Jane Dellow – NGINT
                                                   Power and Water Corporation




          Disclaimer: This booklet is a general
             guideline about household water
     efficiency only. It may contain errors and
       omissions and may not be suitable for
      the circumstances of many households.
     The services of a competent professional
              should always be sought before
           any actions are taken in relation to
                     household water efficiency.
        Individual contributors do not accept
          liability in any way for any errors or
         omissions in the booklet and do not
          accept any liability to any person in
          respect of anything done directly or
       indirectly by a person in reliance upon
             whole or any part of this booklet.

23
                                                                                                                   23
                                                                                                    waterwise
                                                                                                     gardening
waterwise



            www.ngia.com.au                   www.powerwater.com.au
            Phone 08 8983 3233                Phone 1800 245 092
            ABN 98 438 929 847                ABN 15 947 352 360




            printed under iso 14001 environmental certification guidelines.
            printed from vegetable-based inks, all waste and
            by-products of the process have been recycled.
            printed on monza recycled stock.

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Waterwise Gardening Manual in the Top End - Australia

  • 1. waterwise GARDENING IN THE TOP END Please take one FREE!
  • 2. proudly brought to you by Power and Water Corporation and the Nursery & Garden Industry NT
  • 3. contents Waterwise gardening 4 Getting it right from the start 6 Waterwise irrigation 10 Looking after your lawn 12 When to water 13 Leaks 14 Pools 15 Native waterwise plants 16 Making your garden waterwise 18 Nursery & Garden Industry NT 21 Power and Water Corporation 22 More information 23 3 waterwise gardening
  • 4. waterwise gardening In the Top End, people use more than twice as much water as those living in other Australian capital cities. That makes us some of the biggest water users in Australia. With increasing populations The garden is a great place and climate change variability, to start saving water. now is the time for people Being waterwise in the to start thinking about garden doesn’t mean you conserving water by have to compromise on using it more efficiently. having a beautiful garden. Up to 65% of our water use In fact, if you follow the is outside the house, mostly tips in this book, your garden in gardens. could look better than ever. planning your garden By planning your garden • Choose plants suitable for • Think about growing carefully, you can make it the conditions in which suitable trees that will look great, be waterwise and they will be placed. provide shade for your lawn. avoid problems years down • Group plants that The lawn is a big water user the track. have similar watering and shade will help reduce requirements. If they’re its water needs, as well as In the planning stages together, it will be easier cooling down your house. you should: to water them more • Think about how tall and • Consider the conditions efficiently and encourage how wide each plant will in different parts of your stronger plants. grow. Try to avoid growing garden. Some areas may • Choose water efficient trees that will eventually receive more sun or shade, plants – ask your local reach powerlines, or plants some may be exposed to nursery for advice on that will make accessing wind, wet or dry conditions. plant selection. the power or water meters difficult. 4 waterwise gardening
  • 5. when to water? The best time to water your garden is between dusk and dawn. The optimum time to water is early morning prior to sunrise, as the water will be available to the plant during the day when it is needed. • Plan your reticulation system to cater for your immediate needs and possible garden NORTHERN expansion. Draw a map of TERRITORY your irrigation lines to make maintenance easier. GOVERNMENT – 2030 • Visit your local irrigation SUSTAINABLE LIVING specialist for advice on TARGET: the most water efficient Reduce the amount of water that irrigation and water the Territory households use by 20% management programs. by 2015 and a further 10% by 2020, • Think about how much lawn compared to 2009 consumption levels. you actually need. Garden beds require less maintenance and use less water. 5 waterwise gardening
  • 6. getting it By planning your garden carefully, you can make it look right from great, be waterwise and avoid problems years down the track. Top End soils are generally the start sandy or clay loams, have low water holding capacities and high percolation rates. This means they don’t retain water and nutrients very well, which can affect the health of plants. The secret to creating a beautiful water efficient garden in the Top End is getting the condition of your soil right, so it is full of healthy micro-organisms to help feed and maintain the vigour of your plants. A good way to test whether your soil is nutrient rich is to see if you have worms. Lots of big worms in your soil indicates good healthy soil. Two easy ways of improving your soil condition are mulch and organic fertilisers. 6 waterwise gardening
  • 7. mulch Mulch is a surface cover that The general rules when mulching in the Top End are: you put around your plants • Mulch at the start of the dry season. This way you benefit to retain water, fertilise and by retaining some of the moisture in the soil from the wet beautify your garden. Mulch season, and the mulch will not break down as quickly as what is also good at inhibiting it would do in the wet. Otherwise, you can still mulch at any weed growth. time of the year. Generally mulch is organic • Water and fertilise your garden beds before laying the mulch waste that has been broken to ensure they are moist and healthy. down until it is full of • Lay 150 mm (15 cm) of mulch around your plant and water in nutrients and ready for well to initiate water movement through the mulch layer. the garden. • Do not let the mulch touch the base of the plant – this may Mulch is essential in all rot your plant. gardens because of its ability • Organic mulches break down over time improving soil to retain moisture, reduce structure, so they should be reapplied at least once a year to evaporation and as it breaks maintain their effectiveness. Finer mulches will break down down, it adds valuable quicker than coarse materials. nutrient content to your soil. Mulches include woodchips, hay, straw and greenwaste. Mulch ideally should be save your clippings composted or aged to reduce Grass clippings are great for your garden in the Top End. the risk of burning and You can either spread them finely on your garden depleting nutrients from beds straight from the lawn mower, add them the soil. to a compost bin or pile in your yard and wait for Decorative gravels have it to break down so you can use as fertiliser. become popular as a ground cover however they do not improve the soil and can be expensive. 7 waterwise gardening
  • 8. fertilisers Fertiliser will add nutrients Some ideal fertilisers in the Top End are: to your soil which will ensure better plant growth and Manures water retention as well as Aged chicken manure increasing resistance to pests Use in light, regular doses as it is high in nitrogen and and diseases. may burn some sensitive plants like ferns. Water in well. It is best to dig fertilisers into Cow or horse manure the soil or place beneath your Great for building up the organic content of your gardens mulch to ensure optimum and encouraging micro-organisms. up-take by the plants. Prone to weed infestation so remove any weeds if they Slow release organic fertilisers germinate. Use as a light mulch and water in well. are the best and most sustainable products to use Pig manure in the Top End. Inorganic A great nutrient rich manure if available. Apply as a fertilisers may be used top-dressing around the base of your plants and water in. to supplement any trace Packaged organic fertilisers elements that may be lacking in your garden. Organic Blood and bone fertilisers are usually An old standard that still provides great nutrient value manures or composts. for your garden. Follow product recommendations or seek advice from your local nursery professional. You can dig fertilisers into your soil or just lay them on top. Either way they will break down and build up your soil health. 8 waterwise gardening
  • 9. Compost Pelletised chicken manure You can buy some great bulk compost products locally or An industry standard easily make it yourself. Generally compost is a range of organic that is widely used. Great material, such as grass, food (no meat) and garden scraps put nutrient value to encourage together and broken down. The end result is a nutrient rich micro-organisms. Follow fertiliser to add to your garden. Seek advice on composting product recommendations techniques from your local nursery professional. or seek advice from your local nursery professional. Other soil additives Liquid organic fertilisers It is advisable to monitor your soil pH to see whether it is The most effective and acidic or alkaline, and incorporate additives recommended efficient way of supplying by your local nursery professional if required. nutrients to your garden. Waterlogging of the soil There are many products on the market including Waterlogging is considered when the soil’s pores are filled fish emulsion and liquified with water, leaving no room for air. Of course, without the seaweed products. fundamental ingredient oxygen required by plant roots, the plant will not survive. This happens by killing the roots directly, Grass clippings or allows the plants to become vulnerable to disease producers Grass clippings are a great such as pythium and phytophthora. addition to your compost. Waterlogged plants generally appear wilted, stunted, a little Place light coverings of more yellow than normal and even develop dark spots on the clippings straight onto your leaves. Prolonged water logging can cause loss of leaves and garden beds to help with death of root tips, or the entire plant. If the area is flooded during weed control or incorporate the wet season, investigate planting sedges or plants that thrive into your compost heap for in waterlogged or seasonally inundated areas. later use. Generally you can use grass clippings in the If some of your plants begin to die during the first days of heat Top End as compost all year after a period of cool weather (dry season), former waterlogging round. The only time to avoid could be suspected. This would be an ideal time to investigate using them is when your and correct prior to replanting the area. grass is seeding. Waterlogging indicators: • Continuous wet surface • Moss or slimy algae growing on the surface organic • Kills or stunts your plants especially in the wet season fertilisers • Foul odour (similar to rotten egg) when you dig into the surface are the best • Pockets of water below the surface and most To overcome and prevent waterlogging, speak to an irrigation sustainable specialist. You may require a simple surface drain filled with products to gravel or a special drainage system to suit the natural flow of water. Another thing to consider is that poor soil structures and use in the garden beds of deep clay can be contributing factors to drainage Top End. problems. In this case, speak to your local nursery for advice. 9 waterwise gardening
  • 10. waterwise irrigation Another key to a beautiful and waterwise garden is a good irrigation system. There are many different ways to water your garden and many things you should take into consideration when hand choosing your irrigation system. watering micro This method can be relaxing and very efficient. When doing sprayers/ any hand watering, it is best to have a trigger nozzle. They misters give you excellent control and Micro sprayers or misters have a variety of spray styles are not as water efficient as to choose from. Trigger nozzles drippers. Water loss is more ensure you don’t waste water likely due to the wind and when moving between plants. evaporation. They will still get the job done and your plants watered if watering occurs during early morning prior to sunrise and winds. mini- drippers sprinklers Primarily designed for Drippers are by far the most under-tree irrigation in water efficient way to water sprinklers plants in your garden. They orchards, these sprinklers are recommended for use in slowly disperse water directly There is a large range of garden beds to deliver water to the roots of your plants sprinklers that you can attach efficiently. There are many and come in 2, 4 and 8 litre to your hose and move easily types available, however around your garden. These capacity per hour. Drippers several have interchangeable sprinklers are usually cheap are easy to install and nozzles or deflectors that and can get to all the spots maintain, however it is still allow for the watering of a you need to reach. Use a tap recommended that you install single plant initially to a far timer so you don’t waste water an in-line filter and flush your larger area as required. by forgetting to turn them off. dripper system at the start Avoid watering in the heat of of the dry season to avoid the day and when it is windy. blockages and ant nesting. 10 waterwise gardening
  • 11. pop-up sprinklers These sprinklers are installed to make watering your lawn easy and automated. It is essential to have a timer on your pop-ups to perforated make sure you don’t forget to turn them off. Plan the installation of pop-ups well so the spray reaches your lawn and is not and porous wasted on pavement or roads. hoses A new type of pop-up sprinkler is now available on the market. These hoses allow water to It has an adjustable radius to provide an even distribution of be applied slowly and can water. For more information on new water saving products in be moved to hard-to-water the garden visit www.smartwatermark.org places. Porous hoses can be buried to supply water Most irrigation specialists and hardware stores supply directly to the plant’s root free fact sheets on designing and installing pop up systems. zone and are great for narrow A well designed pop up system is the most efficient way to garden beds. water lawns. drippers are timers by far the Every waterwise garden needs most water an irrigation timer whether it is a manual timer, or a fully efficient way automatic system run by an to water irrigation controller. They are plants in essential to ensure watering is done efficiently and you your garden. don’t forget to turn your they slowly system off. You may find that installing an automatic disperse irrigation system will pay for water directly itself in a relatively short period of time. to the roots of your plants 11 waterwise gardening
  • 12. The typical Top End garden has lots of lawn because it suits our active outdoor looking lifestyle and warm climate. Although they look terrific and make after your great living areas for people, lawns are high maintenance and water hungry. lawn People in the Top End region often over-water their lawns. Here are some ways you can maintain a beautiful healthy lawn without wasting water. When establishing a lawn: • Make sure you have good quality topsoil. Speak to a landscaping specialist to find out how you can improve the soil quality before planting your lawn. • Too often people don’t lay enough topsoil. Make sure it is at least 100 to 150 mm (10 to 15 cm) deep as this will ensure sufficient room for grass roots to keep out of the heat so they can forage for water. • Pick a water efficient species of grass. Generally Paspalum sp. (crab grass) and Zoysia spp. ( zoysia grass) are the most water efficient lawns for the Top End. • Do you need so much lawn? Think of areas where you can pave or use ground covers instead of having lawn. Maintaining your lawn: • Turn your sprinklers off in the wet season. • Don’t mow your lawn too short. Longer blades of grass shade the roots and reduce evaporation. • Fertilise your lawn twice a year with a good quality slow release fertiliser. Avoid fertilisers with high nitrogen levels, as this induces excessive growth and water uptake. • Water only when your lawn needs it. Once or twice a week is usually sufficient through the dry season. • Coring your lawn and adding gypsum to clay soils will aid root growth and improve your lawn’s health and durability. 12 waterwise gardening
  • 13. when to water Because most Top End soils don’t hold moisture should well, the rule of watering less frequently and for longer periods does not apply to Darwin i turn and Katherine region gardens. off the However, these rules still apply: irrigation? • Water between dusk and dawn. Watering your garden at night minimises water loss through evaporation. Turn your irrigation system off during the • Water vegetables around dawn to avoid fungal disease problems. majority of the wet • Depending on your soil type, gradient of your property, season and let the rains amount of mulch and irrigation type, generally you do not water the garden for you. need to water for longer than 15 to 20 minutes at a time. You should only need Any more than that and the water will be wasted because to periodically turn the it will be draining straight through the soil past the root irrigation system back on zone of your plants taking valuable nutrients with it. during extended periods of no rain. renting Whether you are renting or own your home, you can always act waterwise. Simply try tap timers or aerators in your yard. depending on can households in your soil type, gradient of the wet/dry tropics your property, use less water? amount of Darwin experiences a short but wet, wet season and then many mulch and months of very low rainfall. Similarly Mackay has periods of low rainfall however by planting appropriately and undertaking irrigation type, water efficient practices outside, have lower water use. generally you do not need to Darwin and Mackay are similiar in size, climate and rainfall patterns. water for longer than 15-20 minutes at a time. darwin mackay, qld 493 65% outdoors Litres per person per day 247 50% outdoors* Litres per person per day * Queensland average. 13 waterwise gardening
  • 14. Our family was able to leaks A tap that drips once every second wastes 30 litres of water daily. If every home had just reduce our water usage in two such dripping taps, we would waste over the dry season from around one whole Olympic swimming pool worth of 3,000 L per day to 2,000 water EVERY DAY. A cracked or broken pipe L per day just by reducing can waste several thousand litres a day. the running time of our irrigation system and fixing Use these tricks to find Quick guide to checking a few broken sprinklers. hidden leaks: for leaks: We found that by reducing the time each station on ✓ hissing, dripping Be alert to any water ✓ Turn off all taps and water-using devices at the irrigation system runs or running when the property. by 5 minutes (down to appliances are off. 15 minutes per station), we ✓ Write down numbers were able to save lots of ✓ Check kitchen, on the meter. water and that our garden bathroom and laundry for dripping taps and ✓ If the dial is not visibly continued to thrive. moving, wait for at washing machine and least 15 minutes (the - Trevor and Maree from Leanyer dishwasher connections. longer the better as Don’t forget hot small leaks may take water systems and air longer to show). conditioning units too. ✓ Unstable paving or ✓ Write down numbers again – concrete and damp have they changed? patches on walls may also suggest you have ✓ If they have, you may have a leak. Ring a leak. a plumber to fix those leaks. L Look out for wet patches in your garden or unusually v vigorous/green garden growth. Check and maintain y your irrigation system and if installing new irrigation, g get some professional advice. B Broken irrigation heads, while technically not a leak, c can waste a lot of water and water areas such as concrete t that don’t need it. The best way to check this is when the irrigation is on, adjust and replace sprinkler heads. E Ella Patterson Water Engineer, Power and Water Corporation
  • 15. Since moving into our Nightcliff home a few years ago, we have been working towards reducing our water consumption, especially in our yard. pools Pools can account for nearly We have a large tropical garden and by planting plants one fifth of a household’s with similar water needs together, we have been able water use. Some evaporates, to keep our water use down. However, we do need to some leaks and some goes to supplement our irrigation with some hand watering backwash. If you have a pool: occasionally, but we can really target the areas using less water overall. We also replaced our irrigation system • Shade the pool to which was full of leaks that we just couldn’t find. reduce evaporation. Our large swimming pool is positioned in full sun • Use a pool cover to and required regular top ups due to evaporation. Since reduce evaporation installing shade cloth over our pool, we have really and keep the pool clean. noticed that we don’t have to top it up as often. • Keep the pool clean We have managed to reduce our water consumption and empty the skimmer from about 500L per person per day to 350L per person basket daily to reduce per day. It goes up a little in the dry but we hardly use any filter back flushing. water in the wet season when we don’t need to irrigate • Try a cartridge filter. at all. Our irrigation system is switched off completely • Experiment with how during the wet. little you can run the - Amy from Nightcliff filter pump and still maintain a healthy pool. 15 waterwise gardening
  • 16. native waterwise plants 16 waterwise gardening
  • 17. Next time you Some great ornamental Top End natives include: introduce new Acacia gonocarpa Grevillea wickhamii plants to your Acacia nuperrima Holly Grevillea garden, consider Acacia wickhamii using natives to Peltophorum pterocarpum the Top End. They Alphitonia excelsa Yellow Flame Tree are well adapted Red Ash or Soap Tree Pleomele angustifloia to the local Alstonia actinophylla Native Dracaena conditions, need Milkwood Melastoma malabathricum less water and Native Lasiandra will attract Banksia dentata wildlife. Swamp Banksia Mimusops elengi Mimusops Calytrix existipulata Turkey Bush Murraya paniculata Murraya Chrysopogon elongatus Tall Tamil Grass Syzygium armstrongii White Bush Apple Curcuma australasica (suitable for large gardens, Native Ginger seek advice from your local Grevillea dryandri nursery professional) Dryander’s Grevillea Grevillea formosa Mt Brockman Grevillea Grevillea pteridifolia Fern-leaved Grevillea for more information on native plants and gardening in the Top End, visit Greening Australia’s website www.greeningaustralia.org.au 17 waterwise gardening
  • 18. making your garden waterwise tropical gardens Most established gardens in • Consider reducing the size Darwin are tropical. A typical of your lawn and replacing tropical garden consists of it with mulched areas. palms, lots of lawn and other • Use drippers rather lush water-hungry plants. than sprayers. There are ways you can reduce Some waterwise plants the water needs of these for a tropical garden are: gardens, while ensuring they • Native ornamental species. still look great: • Xerophytic (drought • Consider removing resistant) plant species. some plants and replacing them with more • Non-invasive exotic species water-efficient species. that are adapted to our wet/dry climatic zone. • Make sure garden beds are mulched. 18 waterwise gardening
  • 19. contemporary gardens In recent years new housing • Mulch all plants, even the estates have boomed in Darwin ones in pots. and Palmerston, creating a new • If building your garden from style of garden. The Darwin scratch, installing efficient contemporary is typically on a and suitable automatic smaller block and incorporates watering systems that are a mixture of potted and garden well maintained, can save bed plants, some lawn as well you time and money. as ground covers, pavers and water features. Some waterwise plants for a Top End contemporary These gardens are designed garden are: to be low maintenance and • Cycads • Yuccas simple in style. They have the potential to be very water • Pony Tails • Agaves efficient if planned correctly: • Spider Lily • Rhoeo • Have less lawn and more • Natives • Vincas pavers and groundcovers. • Dianella • Draceanas • Plant water-efficient • Liriope species in the garden photo courtesy of in-scape-out and pots where possible. bush gardens Typically found in the rural • Only water what you areas of the Darwin and have to – try to let nature Katherine regions, the bush take care of the rest of garden is a mix of natives, your block. tropical and potted exotic • Retain as much native species. Generally the areas vegetation as possible. around the house will be well • Think about replacing manicured and structured, and thirsty plants with suitable the remainder of the block will natives near your home – grow freely, usually being low they need less water and maintenance as it consists of will attract more wildlife. native trees and shrubs. Some waterwise plants for Some waterwise tips for the the bush garden are: bush garden are: • Acacias • Use a timer on sprinklers so you don’t forget to turn • Grevilleas them off. • Eucalypts • Use lawn clippings for mulch and compost. 19 waterwise gardening
  • 20. potted gardens As the apartment • Select water efficient development boom continues species – they don’t in Darwin, many people are have to be native. leaving their houses and big • Use a saucer on the base gardens for high-rise living. of the pot. This keeps This doesn’t mean missing your floor or pavers clean, out on having a garden. as well as holding extra Potted gardens are practical, moisture for the plant to transportable, easy to absorb. Be careful not to maintain and look great. have water permanently These tips will help you in the saucers as many stay waterwise: plants will rot. • Pot your plants into a • Remember to fertilise your premium potting mix potted plants regularly made to the Australian with a suitable slow Standard – it has a higher release plant food. water holding capacity Some waterwise plants so you won’t need to for the potted garden are: water as often. • Cycads • Choose larger and deeper pots – shallow pots will be • Agaves prone to greater moisture • Draceanas loss from breeze and • Frangipani evaporation. • Yuccas • Hand water the plants • Pony Tail using a trigger nozzle on a hose or a watering can. • Bromeliads • Mulch around the plant • Bougainvillea base to retain moisture. • Jade Plant • Desert Rose • Succulents to create a beautiful waterwise Top End garden, see your local nursery, garden centre or garden professional for the right advice. 20 waterwise gardening
  • 21. nursery and garden industry nt The Nursery & Garden Industry NT (NGINT) is the peak body representing nurseries and garden centres as well as allied traders. NGINT also represents a growing number of businesses from the amenity horticulture sector including landscaping designers, suppliers and contractors, irrigation services and garden maintenance. NGINT’s goal is to “build The NGINT is committed better businesses” by helping to promoting and educating and supporting members to the industry and community improve their performance about sustainable water use. and professionalism. Gardening is an important part of our outdoor lifestyle Through the national and it is also essential for Nursery and Garden Industry tourism, recreation, leisure Association (NGIA), the and health. nursery and garden industry has been proactive with It is vital that everyone takes initiatives to address the responsibility for sustainable industry’s key water issues. water use, and in the garden The industry, along with the that means thinking about gardening public, is perceived efficient watering techniques, to be a significant user of the quality of the soil and water. The National Industry plant selection. Water Policy has been For more information presented to key industry about the NGINT and NGIA, stakeholders and community and gardening tips visit groups and provides a www.ngia.com.au or strategic framework for phone 08 8983 3233. developing ongoing projects and partnerships on water issues. 21 waterwise gardening
  • 22. power and water corporation Around 65% of household consumption and impact water is used in the garden on the environment. and this is where people can Power and Water has make real water savings. teamed up with the Top End residents are some Nursery & Garden Industry of the biggest water users in NT so its customers have the country, and Power and access to the right advice Water is striving to help its on waterwise gardening. customers reduce their water custom for more information on ho how to save energy and water, v visit www.powerwater.com.au, c call 1800 245 092 or p pick up a free copy of the green guide from our customer service centres. Darwin Palmerston Katherine Shop 28, Shop 21, Ground Floor, Ground Floor, Mitchell Centre Palmerston Shopping Centre Government Centre 55 Mitchell Street 10 Temple Terrace 5 First Street 22 waterwise gardening
  • 23. Smart Approved Watermark SAWM stands for Smart Approved WaterMark. It is a voluntary label used on outdoor products such as pool covers or trigger nozzle hoses. It indicates that the product is water saving but does not give it a rating. For more information visit information www.smartwatermark.org savewater!® Alliance Inc savewater! has a range of water conservation information including a home water use calculator which allows you to see where you are using the majority of water in and around your home and how this compares to the Northern Territory average. www.savewater.com.au Greening Australia Greening Australia is passionate about protecting and restoring the health of our land. Native plants are available for sale from their nursery. Visit greeningaustralia.org.au Acknowledgements more Allora Gardens Nursery David Silva – Silva Photography Good Gardens with less water by Kevin Handreck (CSIRO Publishing Gardening Guides, 2008) Jane Dellow – NGINT Power and Water Corporation Disclaimer: This booklet is a general guideline about household water efficiency only. It may contain errors and omissions and may not be suitable for the circumstances of many households. The services of a competent professional should always be sought before any actions are taken in relation to household water efficiency. Individual contributors do not accept liability in any way for any errors or omissions in the booklet and do not accept any liability to any person in respect of anything done directly or indirectly by a person in reliance upon whole or any part of this booklet. 23 23 waterwise gardening
  • 24. waterwise www.ngia.com.au www.powerwater.com.au Phone 08 8983 3233 Phone 1800 245 092 ABN 98 438 929 847 ABN 15 947 352 360 printed under iso 14001 environmental certification guidelines. printed from vegetable-based inks, all waste and by-products of the process have been recycled. printed on monza recycled stock.