Gardens
- Fact sheet - Gardens and Lawns (PDF 620KB)
During times of drought, we can still have beautiful gardens – it just takes some thought and a little extra planning to ensure they are water efficient.
Medium Level Restrictions allow for extra water use outdoors and a water consumption target of 200 litres per person per day. Specifically:
- Use of a single hand held hose (with twist/ trigger nozzle) for two 30 minute periods on allocated days to:
- water gardens
- wash cars
- undertake general outdoor cleaning, such as wash houses and hose outdoor areas other than paths and driveways
- Use of a bucket to:
- water gardens between 4pm and 8am on any day except Monday
- clean outdoors at any time
- Use of efficient irrigation systems to water gardens.
Read more about efficient irrigation.
Tips for water-wise gardening
- Install a rainwater tank and use the tank supply to water your garden, top up your pool or for other outdoor water uses.
- Mulch your garden regularly to maintain moisture in the soil and control weeds that compete with plants for water.
- Regularly check outdoor taps, pipes and plumbing fixtures for leaks.
- Select drought-tolerant plants to reduce the water your garden needs.
- Use wetting agents in your garden.
- Before adding new plants to your garden, prepare the garden bed with good soil, water storing granules, wetting agents and thick layers of mulch to maximise water efficiency.
- Group plants in the garden that require similar amounts of water.
- Avoid watering when it is windy – wind causes water to evaporate and blows it to areas where it is not needed.
- When choosing a lawn type, choose slow growing, water saving varieties like Palmetto. They have deep roots for tolerance and they don’t need mowing as much as other varieties.
- Don’t cut the lawn too short, and remember that it will readily regenerate after a small amount of rain.