Episode: #9 28/10/06
Presenter: Melissa King

We get a lot of questions from viewers about the best way to water. Being water efficient doesn?t mean we have to rip out lawns and garden beds and grow nothing but cactus, it just means that we have to be more efficient in how we use water. The approaches we can use are often better for our plants.

Always water when the sun is down, either in the evening or early morning. No sun and calmer conditions means that the water can get down into the soil and down to the roots rather than evaporating before it hits the ground.

The roots are where plants absorb water, so it makes sense to water as close to the roots as possible if you hold the hose up high you are much more likely to lose water to the wind, plus wet foliage can encourage nasty fungal diseases to take hold, particularly in susceptible plants like roses.

There is also a lot of sense in watering deeply and less often, rather than getting out there everyday and giving the garden a superficial sprinkle. Thorough watering encourages the plant to develop a deep root system that gives them more resilience in hot dry weather.

Watering the garden can be therapeutic, which means we often go outside and water for the sake of it without really considering the weather forecast or how wet the soil might be already. If watering is your therapy, then save it for those times when the garden really needs it.

The other thing to consider is that different areas of the garden demand more or less attention. A water thirsty lawn or vegetable garden may need more input than shrub beds or borders.

Sprinklers that deliver water high into the air or spray a mist lose water through evaporation, so look for systems which deliver water at a low angle or close to the ground and always direct sprinklers toward your lawn and away from sidewalks and driveways.

Drip irrigation systems apply water directly to the roots, where the plant needs it most and can reduce water usage by 50 percent.

You would be surprised how much water you can lose through a leaky tap or irrigation system. In the typical garden, a little extra attention to irrigation system design, maintenance, and management could reduce water use by 20 to 70 percent.

Always turn off sprinklers in rainy weather or use a smart sprinkler controller which monitors environmental conditions, such as rain, wind, temperature, soil moisture, slope and plant type, to deliver the right amount of water for a healthy environment and healthy plants.

Stage 1 water restrictions are now in place in Melbourne. For more information please visit www.ourwater.vic.gov.au or contact your local water authority.