In your garden

In your garden

• Water lawns and gardens during the coolest part of the day.
• Collect rainwater in large tubs or cans and use it to water plants.
• Avoid using pesticides, herbicides and fungicides in the garden for they seep into the garden and pollute ground water.
• Don’t water your lawn on windy days when most of the water blows away or evaporates.
• Water your plants deeply but less frequently to encourage deep root growth and drought tolerance.
• Water only when necessary. More plants die from over-watering than from under-watering.
• Group plants with the same watering needs together to avoid overwatering some while under watering others.
• Use a layer of organic material on the surface of your planting beds to minimize weed growth that competes for water.
• Trickling or cascading fountains lose less water to evaporation than those spraying water into the air.
• Aerate your lawn at least once a year so water can reach the roots rather than run off the surface.
• Consult with your local nursery for information on plant selection and placement for optimum outdoor water savings.
• For hanging baskets, planters and pots, place ice cubes under the moss or dirt to give your plants a cool drink of water and help eliminate water overflow.
• Set a timer when watering your lawn or garden to remind you when to stop. A running hose can discharge more than 300 litres a minute