Episode: VIC Waterwise Special ? Our Changing Climate
Presenter: Neville Passmore

Neville visits a brilliant example of a Waterwise garden. The carefully designed garden reflects the Yarra river landscape with the use of quarried rock, billabongs and the use of a series of cascading waterfalls.

The supply comes from the seasonal rain that falls on the roof, which is captured in the upper billabong which then fills up ad flows through a series of cascades down to the bottom where it is then pumped back up again.

Designing a water wise garden is not just for those starting a new patch from scratch. It can also be undertaken in an existing one where you, for example replace guzzlers with more appropriate plant selections.

Plant selection is one of the ways to a more moisture efficient design. Local area natives are a logical choice as they get by on what they receive in the way of rainfall and soil fertility.

Over 5000 Yarra bend local plants went into the featured landscape by Greenmark Landscapes, which includes local grasses, everlastings and river gums. The benefit of using indigenous plants is that they attract butterflies, local birds and animals such as frogs, which bring sounds that you may not have heard for a generation or more but really bring your garden to life.

Having water in your garden in such a dry continent is both luxurious and comforting and the billabongs are achievable in any landscape environment.

When it comes to mulch what you actually need is a layer that is 10 ? 15 centimetres thick of chunky organic material. It can save a staggering 60% of the water you apply from being evaporated.

When you add it up, saving water in the garden isn?t rocket science but it is an imperative and we all need to get on the trail.

Featured Location

Greenmark Landscapes
www.greenmarklandscapes.com.au
info@greenmarklandscapes.com.au

ph: 03 9752 1541
mob: 0417131778