Seasons In Your Garden

To help you make the most effective use of water on your gardens and lawns, here are a few tips from Central Highlands Water.

Summer

• Lawns - Avoid cutting lawns when the temperature is going to be in the high 30's. By removing the lawn's shade, the soil will lose more moisture due to evaporation. If you do cut when the weather is warm-hot, it is best to water that night. This will quickly help keep the lawn from suffering any undue stress.
  
  

• Annuals – In order to water "high water usage" plants such as annuals effectively, group them together around focal points, such as entrances and entertainment areas.
  
  
  

• Review your garden layout - At this time of year the plants not suitable for a certain area and of which don't have much drought tolerance will be showing obvious signs of distress or may have even died. Consider moving them (the ones that are alive) at a cooler time of year to a more suitable position.
  
  Or perhaps replace them with something that is lower in water use, such as - Wormwood (Artemesia), Agapanthus, Lavender, Gazania, Cotton Lavendar (Santolina sp), some of the Callistemons, Rock Rose (Cistus). Silver leaves on a plant is a dead give-away that it is usually drought tolerant.
  
  There are many water wise plants available but the main thing to remember is to position your plants where they will grow best. Place shade tolerant plants in the Shade, and full Sun plants in the sun. Matching the plant to the growing position is a very important water wise tip. Contact Central Highlands Water on marketing@chw.net.au for a copy of our suggested Water Wise Plant List.

Autumn

• Lawns - March is a good time to renovate or replace an existing lawn. Consider sowing a hardier lawn species such as Tall Fescue or some of the Perennial Ryes. Core, aerate or slice your lawn to help water soak into the root zone of the turf and not run off. The turf will look healthier and you will actually use less water.
  
  

• Microspray or Drip Systems - Consider installing a Microspray or Drip System in your garden beds.
  
  

• Compost - Autumn leaves are excellent for compost. It is best to leave the leaves on the ground if possible until most of tree is bare, than run the mower over the leaves. This helps the leaves to break down quicker when placed on the compost heaps. Remember to turn the heap regularly, adding other garden waste such as lawn clippings, prunings etc.
  
  

• Fertilise - In early Autumn, fertilise lawns and shrubs after it has rained, otherwise you can burn the roots and leaves.

Winter

• Add some instant colour – Polyanthus are now in flower, so if you want to give a shady spot in your garden some instant colour, purchase some and plant them now.
  
  

• Prune your roses – July is a good time to prune your Roses. Also, to give your Roses a good start for the next season, spray Lime Sulphur on your Roses a week or so after pruning.
  
  

• Review your garden layout - Winter is a good time to have a look around your garden to see whether you wish to make any changes to the layout of your garden beds, or to relocate any plants. There are many water wise plants available, but the main thing to remember is to position your plants where they will grow best. For example, place shade plants in the Shade, and full Sun plants in the sun. Contact Central Highlands Water on marketing@chw.net.au. for a copy of our suggested Water Wise Plant List.

Spring

• Select the correct plants for the position – Selecting the correct plants is an essential technique for an effective water wise garden. Select plants to match the garden position (eg. shady/sunny areas) and water use requirements (eg. low/medium/high).
  
  Spring is a good time to plant out most shrubs and garden plants. The soil is starting to warm up and the intermittent showers will help the new plants establish quickly. marketing@chw.net.au for a copy of our Water Wise Plant List.
  
  When establishing new plants, place a piece of drainage pipe vertically beside your tree or shrub. Fill this up with some small gravel or stones.
  
  When filled with water this will slowly soak deep into the roots of the plant. Also incorporate organic matter at this stage.
  
  

• Mulch – Spring is also a good time to install mulch on your garden beds, or top up the garden beds if the mulch has broken down. Mulch helps reduce evaporation of up to 73% and holds water.

• Lawns - Fertilise your lawn to promote strong roots, shoot development and tougher grass. Visit our Lawn Demonstration Area at our Water Wise Garden at Kirks, Daylesford Road, Ballarat, Victoria.

For further information

Visit our Lawn Demonstration Area at our Water Wise Garden at Kirks, Daylesford Road, Ballarat, Victoria.

Click here for further information on the gardens or e-mail: marketing@chw.net.au

We conduct guided tours of the gardens and other areas of our Parks upon request. For more details or to make a booking please telephone Central Highlands Water on (03) 53203162.