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Water
Saving - 10 tips brochure
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| WaterPros Tip 1 |
| Plant Low Water Consuming Grass Varieties |
Despite permanent water saving measures, you can have a beautiful green lawn
this summer! With the right grass selection you can have a lawn that will be
the envy of your neighbours.
Warm-season grasses, such as Sir Walter BuffaloT, Couch and Kikuyu and have excellent
drought tolerance and are extremely hard wearing.
Sir Walter Buffalo is an attractive and hardy lawn type that is proving to be
very popular in many Melbourne homes.Like
other warm season grasses, Sir Walter experiences a period of dormancy through
the cool season.Unlike the other warm-season
grasses, however Sir Walter retains a more healthy appearance and stays relatively
green throughout winter (winter colour will improve with age).Sir
Walter will grow well in a variety of soil types, but prefers sandy, well-drained
soils.
Probably the most attractive feature of Sir Walter is that it is an extremely
low-maintenance lawn. Once established it requires very little watering, and
the most that you are likely to mow it is once a fortnight during its main growing
season.During the cooler season Sir Walter
will not need to be watered and requires very little or no mowing.Mowing
heights should be set at around 40mm (no lower) and slightly higher in shady
areas.
Due to its creeping habit, Sir Walter has the ability to recover from damage,
caused by dogs or constant heavy traffic for example.It has a broad, soft-leaf that forms a lush
carpet of green throughout the year.
Couch & Kikuyu grasses have very similar properties as the Sir Walter, the
main difference is that Couch & Kikuyu have underground creepers (rhizomes),
as well as surface creepers (stolons).These rhizomes mean that Couch & Kikuyu
will have a tendency to creep underneath pavers and garden edging.Couch & Kikuyu also require full sun
to grow at their best.Couch can also
be mown short, so it is perfect for a backyard putting green.
If you would like a beautiful green lawn this summer ask a Pro - a WaterPro. |
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| WaterPros Tip 2 |
| Aerate and feed your lawns and gardens to promote strong, healthy
plants with higher stress resistance |
You can have a lush green healthy lawn. The key is to have a balanced program
of lawn care.Such a program will include
fertilisers, mowing, irrigation & soil aeration.A lawn that is properly maintained will require
less water, have fewer weeds & pest problems & will reward your efforts
with a greener lawn able to with stand times of stress.
Fertilizers
For a healthy green lawn, fertilizers should be applied every 6-8 weeks.Spread
the fertilizer evenly & water in well.Fertilizer
is food for your lawn.It will include
essential nutrients required to promote a strong, green lawn & healthy root
development.The result will be a greener
lawn with a stronger root system that requires less watering and is less likely
to show signs of stress during days of extreme heat.Ask our friendly & experienced staff
which fertilizer is suitable for your particular requirements.
Aeration
Aeration is opening the soil profile using a fork-like coring tool to puncture
numerous small holes in the soil.Aeration
plays a major role in helping your established lawn breath by opening up the
soil allowing water & nutrients easy access to the lawn's root zone.Aeration
is particularly affective where the soil has become compact, in high traffic
areas & as a general yearly maintenance to prevent soils becoming dense.
HINT: We recommend a professionally designed, efficient irrigation system be
installed for best results.Additionally,
when mowing ensure mower blades are sharp & lawn is cut at the recommended
height for your lawn type.Our staff will be happy to offer a free irrigation
design & suggest the height to cut your lawn.
If you would like advice on lawns, lawn maintenance, instant turf, lawn seed,
fertilizers, ask a Pro - a WaterPro - 1300 928 377. |
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| WaterPros Tip 3 |
| Leave your grass longer and use a wetting agent to maximise water
effectiveness in the lawn and garden |
Leave your grass longer
The way you mow your lawn can have a significant impact on the way your lawn
looks & the rate it uses water.
A lawn cut at the following heights will serve to slow soil evaporation by providing
protection from direct sunlight and strong winds. On hot days, a longer lawn
will provide a layer of insulation slowing the warming of the soil & hence
the rate of evaporation. Watering at night will also reduce evaporation. The
result should be a greener lawn, better able to cope with drought conditions.
LAWN TYPE MOWING HEIGHT
Blue / Rye 25 - 35mm
Tall Fescue 45 - 60mm
Couch 10 - 20mm
Sir Walter Buffalo 45+mm
Kikuyu 25 - 50mm
Wetting Agents..Maximise Water Effectiveness
While water is important, getting it in the right area is essential, so that
lawns and gardens are watered effectively.Soils that are hydrophobic (repel water)
or have poor water holding qualities, can be ineffective and can waste many litres
of our most precious commodity.
To help combat these problems it is recommended that you add wetting agents to
the soil.Wetting agents break the surface
tension of hydrophobic soils, allowing more water to penetrate.They also hold the water where it the most
useful, ie around the root base.
Wetting agents should be applied prior to laying turf or seeding lawns, or planting
out your gardens.They should also be
added once every 6 months to have the best effect.
Wetting agents are available in granular and liquid form.In granular form, they can be dug into the
first 10-20 cm of soil before planting. Each litre of wetting agent will cover
approximately 15m2.The liquid form can
be applied after planting or for subsequent applications. |
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| WaterPros Tip 4 |
| Use mulch and compost on your garden beds to reduce water evaporation
and improve soil structure |
Mulching
There are many mulches to choose from.They
vary in, size of particle, texture, nutrient content and moisture retention.Once
you are clear as to what you are planting, then the most appropriate mulch can
be advised by your local garden supply or nursery.
Mulching helps:
. fertilise your plants;
. improves drainage in the soil;
. improves your soil structure;
. reduces weed problems; and most importantly
. retains moisture for your plants;
. reduces the need for watering; and
. gives your garden beds a fresh appearance for months to come.
Recycled green waste from trees and bushes is one of the most common forms of
mulch.This is readily available from
your local council or your local tree arborist at a much, reduced price.This
is one of the most economical ways to help your plants survive the hot, dry summers
and most importantly conserve water.
Don't mulch too heavily around the base of plants, new or old.A light layer of mulch around the base and
then place a much thicker layer away from the trunk to create a bowl effect.This
gives the plant a helping hand to catch and retain water when it rains or when
you water. Also have a metal rod or old screwdriver available to poke through
the mulch and into the ground to regularly check soil moisture under your mulch,
you don't want to over water.
Compost
Grass clippings, vegetable scraps, kitchen and garden wastes can all be used
as compost.Digging or turning these over
regularly in a bin will form an inexpensive compost.The compost, when added to your garden, will
assist plants and introduce worms to your soil.
Compost helps:
. fertilise your plants;
. improves your soil quality;
. retains moisture for your plants; and
. reduce the need for watering.
Mushroom compost is a popular form of organic fertiliser to improve your soil
structure for plants and is readily available from garden suppliers. |
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| WaterPros Tip 5 |
| Install water efficient garden irrigation equipment. |
Efficient irrigation equipment distributes water effectively and evenly to the
areas required. This results in plant growth and health, without excessive maintenance
requirements (pruning/mowing) whilst still promoting an aesthetically pleasing
landscape with minimal water wastage.
Three things can govern the effectiveness of an irrigation system:
. choice and quality of equipment
. design and outlet layout
. regular maintenance routine
By having your garden watering system professionally designed and installed the
correct type of outlets can be incorporated into the system to suit the different
types of plants - exotic and native, lawns, pots, hanging baskets, ferneries,
rockeries, slope, soil type and prevailing weather conditions etc.
After consultation, each garden watering system is tailor made for each individual
garden layout and takes into account available water pressure and flow, access
to different areas, budget, plant growth, future garden development and lifestyle.
If an outlet applies water at a greater rate than the infiltration rate of the
plant medium being watered, then run off will occur, this will result in very
inefficient irrigation and the plants not be getting the moisture they require.
(infiltration rates/soil moisture uptake can be improved using wetting agents & gypsum
in some soils)
Automation of garden watering systems, when managed properly, can improve efficiency
of the system by watering at night or early morning (avoiding excessive evaporation)
applying measurable quantities of water to different areas and taking into account
the topography & plant requirements. (watering before the plants reach their
wilting point).
There are many different types of irrigation equipment on the market today, with
many of the commercial quality valves, sprays, sprinklers, tricklers & drippers
being very water efficient if used as they were designed for. The professionally
designed and installed garden watering system with good management will deliver
a measured amount water to the areas it was designed to do, there-by alleviating
water wastage, green slime and staining on paving, water running down driveways,
watering the neighbours garden, excess plant growth which means higher garden
maintenance costs.
Don't forget to claim your rebate from the government!The Victorian Government
offers rebate for certain water saving expenses. |
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| WaterPros Tip 6 |
| If doing it yourself, make sure your irrigation equipment is installed
correctly to minimise wastage |
Expert advice obtained from your local Water Pro's store will ensure that the
investment you are making with the purchase of a professionally designed sprinkler
system is not wasted and neither is water - our most important natural resource.
Tips for DIY installation:
. Trenching is the most time consuming part of any installation of pipework.
If the area is accessible, use a trenching machine. If not, use a thinner trenching
shovel (3, 4, 5, or 6 inches wide) rather than with a conventional 8 inch shovel.
. Roll your coils of pipe out in a straight line and leave a weight at either
end. This will reduce the likelihood of the pipe kinking.
. Never install fittings after pipe has been buried, as it is extremely difficult
to join. Even though buried, pipe will recoil (retract) once cut so always install
fittings as the system is installed.
. Don't over tighten threads as compensation for using minimal thread tape (Teflon).
Eventually a slow drip will develop into a constant spray. Make sure a sufficient
amount is used.
. Pipe is not fully UV stabilized so it is essential that all pipework is buried
or at least covered by mulch to prevent accelerated deterioration from the sun
and also in some cases frost.
. Small plastic or metal stakes are available to keep poly pipe relatively straight
when snaking through a garden or lawn before burying.
. Install all valves and solenoids before the installing valve boxes. Valve boxes
can be cut to a level box flush with the soil. Bricks or timber can be laid under
the valve box for stability so its position is maintained for years to come.
. Before installing solenoid valves with flow control, adjust the valves so they
only open a small amount, once the valve is plumbed in and the water supply slowly
turned on switch the solenoid on at the controller, then with the solenoid coil
activated open the bleed valve. This will ensure the coil is operating and the
bleeding of the valve allows any air to be expelled. Then adjust the flow to
the required pressure to a point just before misting occurs.
. For drippers and micro sprays put a flushing valve at the end of the line and
a vacuum breaker at the start. This will reduce the possibility of air locks
in the system and prevent vacuum (backflow), resulting in the clogging of sprays
and drippers.
. Flushing the lines before fitting off the nozzles, sprays, drippers, valves
etc is critical in preventing blockages in the system. Always leave the end of
a line open and above ground level, this will stop any possibility of vacuum
sucking debris back down the line when flushed. When installing pop-ups, start
from the lowest point, after flushing the line fit the lowest heads off and continue
the flushing and fitting off up to the highest points to minimize back flow.
. When installing pipe in lawns ensure a minimum of five inches (125mm) buried
depth is achieved to avoid piercing of pipework when aerating or scarifying the
lawn.
. The top of pop-ups should always be installed flush with the soil. This will
ensure mowing and wiper snipping will not damage the pop-ups. Correct sprinkler
performance is achieved over the area sprayed when they are installed correctly.
. As sprinklers, particularly lawn pop ups are installed extra soil should be
packed around the sprinkler to stabilize and correctly position them. |
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| WaterPros Tip 7 |
| Zone your lawn and garden bed watering systems separately. They
require different amounts of water |
Zoning.. A watering must to save water!
When designing a sprinkler system it is essential to determine the water requirements
of the different garden sections. Areas such as, garden beds containing native
plants and shrubs, lawn areas or garden flowerbeds, hanging baskets etc, all
have different requirements.
Shrubs & Native Plants
We live in a relatively hot, dry climate. As such many of our native plants are
reasonably drought tolerant and therefore don't require a lot of water. During
establishment there is certainly a requirement to keep the water up to the plant,
but once established can be reduced to suit their needs.
Lawn Areas
Lawns have a similar requirement to native plants with regard to the water they
require. It is important to keep the water up during establishment but once established
the water can be reduced in frequency to meet the needs of the particular grass/soil
combination. An important consideration for the separate zoning of lawns comes
with the introduction of permanent water saving measures through government legislation.
In times of drought, lawn watering may not be permitted.
Flowerbeds and Hanging Baskets
These areas require frequent watering. Hot, dry and windy conditions cause the
plant to wilt through water loss and must be topped back up to prevent permanent
damage. In the summer months this may mean watering in the morning and evening
to maintain the health of the plant.
As gardens are often made up of areas with entirely different water requirements
it is recommended that lawn sections, native garden beds, flowerbeds and hanging
basket type areas be zoned separately to use only the amount of water necessary
to keep them alive and healthy. |
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| WaterPros Tip 8 |
| Make the most of
your water efficient garden by installing garden lights |
With thoughtful planning, night lighting adds the finishing touch to your landscaped
garden creating an exciting nightscape that can be enjoyed from within your home
or when entertaining outdoors.
Water Pro's provide a wide choice of high quality garden lights at affordable
pricing. Visit our showroom and allow our staff to explain how simple ideas can
transform your garden.
When planning, consider the all the effects you wish to create - silhouette or
highlight effects. Identify the features in your garden that you may wish to
highlight. For example, steps, tree trunks, plants, rendered raised garden beds,
statues, open wall space and water features.
To achieve the best effect, use subtle light rather than flood the garden, turning
night into day. Accentuate the feature and decide on the atmosphere you feel
more comfortable with. Shadows are achieved with large leafed plants or features
when the wall behind the plant is highlighted, creating a dramatic effect with
a bold silhouetted shape. This effect is stunning when the wall has a strong
contrasting color. Small leafed plants, if highlighted by hooded spots with a
low wattage globe, gives a soft gently touch to the garden. The contrast of bold
and soft gives the interest to your nightscape.
. To light large trees, keep the beam close to the tree trunk using high wattage
globes or 240 volt lighting.
. For driveways or throughout the garden where there are low shrubs, bollard
lighting is suitable.
. Path lights are very effective especially when hedging plants border the path.
. Vertical lighting from an uplight or up and downlight gives a stunning effect
on a bare wall.
. Spotlights highlight plants and garden features and the hooded spot gives a
more directional beam without glare if used with a low degree globe.
. Garden floodlight turns night into day.
. Submersible lights should be used to capture water movement.
. Step lights, throw interesting beams, when installed around the walls of garden
beds, ponds and stairways.
To create the desired effect there are two main systems, 240 volt and the more
commonly used for garden lighting, is low voltage using halogen light. Low voltage
lighting can be installed by the DIY handyman and is very safe.
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| WaterPros Tip 9 |
| Install and maintain your water feature and pond to recycle water - needs
more content |
Many of our water features are uniquely different, catering for indoor and patio
fountains without splash, small garden areas to large features for both home
and commercial installations. Relax and enjoy the beauty and tranquility of a
water feature in your own garden while still conserving water by following these
tips.
Choose the right pump and filter equipment for your feature and ensure they are
installed correctly to prevent loss of water through splash or leaks.
Make sure the feature is correctly installed or constructed so that water loss
is minimized and equipment is readily accessible for maintenance or repairs.
Ensuring your water is appropriately filtered reduces the need to replace
water.
Test and treat your pond water on a regular basis. Water Feature Treatment (chlorine
based) is good for features without fish. It stops that green algae build up
that looks yuck. This reduces cleaning and therefore saves water. But is NOT
suitable for ponds with FISH! |
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| WaterPros Tip 10 |
| Start water recycling by installing a rainwater tank |
Q. What size tank should I get?
A. It is best to consult your Waterpros professional, but it is generally
best to install the biggest tank that you can fit to maximise your amount of
storage when the rain stops.
Q. How can I determine how much water I can catch?
A. After deciding which part of your roof you will catch off you can use- 1
square meter of catchment area per millimetre of rain will catch 1 litre of
water.
Q. What type of base do I need?
A. The easiest type of base to prepare is a 7-10cm bed of sand which is 30cm
wider than the diameter of the tank, it also fine to use the same rule if a
concrete base is preffered.
Q. Who installs the tanks?
A. Your local waterpros store will be able to recommend a suitable installer
or if not any licenced plumber can install the tank.
Q. Am I allowed to install a water tank?
A. There is no permit required in Victoria for any tank up to 1.8mt in
diamter and 2.1mt total height.
Q. Can I use rainwater to flush my toilet?
A. Yes, with a Rainflush system installed with your water tank you can flush
your toilets with rainwater and fully automatic mains water backup will
ensure a constant water supply.
Q. Is there a government rebate available/
A. Any Nylex Plastank 600 litres and above is eligible for a Victorian
Governement rebate. Please consult with your local waterpro's professional
on these rebates and other possible water saving measures.
Q. What colour can my tank be?
A. The Nylex range of tanks are available in 14 colours to suit the current
COLORBOND® range.
Q. Will the plastic affect the taste in the water?
A. The Nylex plastank range of water tanks impart no odour or taste as they
are manufactured from a fully UV stabilised food grade polyethylene which
complies with AS2070. Please consult with your Waterpros professional before
drinking water from the tank.
Q. Am I buying a quality tank?
A. Nylex Plastank are a quality endorsed company and manufacture a certified
product under the AS/NZS4766(int. You can be guaranteed of the highest
possible standards and quality with Waterpros and Nylex Plastank. |
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