Keep your garden alive without water this summer by using our waterwise ideas and tips.

The Victorian Government provides rebates on selected water conservation products.

Water conservation products

Competitions

Low water use gardens

GWMWater has established a low use water garden around the Regional Administration Centre at 11 McLachlan Street, Horsham. A variety of plants were selected from arid areas of the world including Australia. Other low water use gardens sponsored by GWMWater are at Federation Park - Stawell, Woodbine Administration Centre - Warracknabeal, Karkana Administration Centre - Horsham, and East Wimmera Health Service - Ararat.

Gardening in the GWMWater region with Ted Brown - fact sheet series

Tips for saving water

Gardens

Check your town's water restrictions and where permitted:

• Check your water restrictions and where permitted keep lawn watering to a minimum by encouraging deep root growth and keep lawns free of weeds.

• Choose water efficient plants for your garden. Ask your local nursery for assistance.

• Water thoroughly rather than often. This helps make plants tough, live longer and become tolerant of extremes.

• Mulching your garden beds assists greatly in the reduction of water loss through evaporation.

• Water plants, not paths.

• Use a trigger nozzle on your hose, but remember when finished, turn off the tap to save water lost by leaks.

• A pool cover will reduce the loss of water to evaporation and keep water warmer for longer.

Lawns

Check your town's water restrictions and where permitted:

• Keep lawn areas to a minimum – they are the biggest user of water in the garden.

• Allow lawns to grow to a height of 7cm and don’t be tempted to over water.

• Lawns of perennial and creeping grasses survive better in dry weather and should be encouraged to harden during long hot summers. Talk to your local nursery about arid lawn types suitable for your area.

• Fertilising lawns in later winter will encourage deep rooted grasses.

• Wash the car on the lawn and use a bucket and sponge, then hose off at the end.

• Fertilise with a weak fertiliser mix, such as a liquid that attaches to a hose every month or so over summer.

• Watering should only be applied when the lawn shows signs of stress, then apply about 2.5 cm of water. Place a rain gauge or container near the sprinkler to measure the amount of water.