Presenter: Melissa King

It makes sense to apply whatever water we have in the most efficient way as possible, so Melissa shares a few tips for saving water and promoting happy, healthy, dry loving plants.

Always water when the sun is down, in the evening or bright and early in the morning, as it gives any water you apply a chance to soak deep into the roots of plants without competing with the sun and wind.

Also try to water as close to the roots as possible as that is where plants absorb the moisture they need. If you wave the water around up high you are much more likely to lose it to the wind plus when water sits on the foliage, particularly overnight, it can promote pesky fungal diseases in susceptible plants.

There is also a lot of sense in watering deeply and less often. Thorough watering encourages the plant to develop a deep root system making it more resilient to hot dry weather.
It is amazing how much water you can lose through a leaky tap or watering system so keep on top of maintenance as it can make the world of difference.
Shop around for a system that does the job well. The most efficient watering systems deliver water directly to the roots or close to the ground, so less water is lost through evaporation and it gets to where the plant needs it most.

Every garden shed should have a ready supply of wetting agent and water storing granules and remember mulch not only saves water, but it improves the look of your garden.

Just because it is a day you can water, doesn’t mean you have too, look at your weather and soil conditions first and see just how well your plants are holding up. The will tell you if they are not happy.

For more information on water saving ideas visit www.ourwater.vic.gov.au