Neville visits his friend's Waterwise Garden
Episode: # 30 22/12/07
Presenter: Neville Passmore
This week Neville visited some old friends in Wandi. Wandi is south of Perth, not far from the coast, and the garden has some excellent examples of gardening with a minimum of water. Roy and Veronica McGrath retired from the nursery industry to devote their lives to gardening, in other word just like Neville they are a pair of plant nutters. And like many western Australians they are committed to creating a water-smart garden.
Straight up we have to say well done to the McGraths and all Perth gardeners who have lead the country in water saving. For the last 6 years we have achieved annual savings of 45 gigalitres, despite rapid population growth and the toughest gardening conditions in the country, at the Garden Gurus we are very proud of you.
One of the principles of conserving water in the home environment is using climate appropriate plants. The business speciality of the Mc Graths was cacti and succulents so these plants are a significant feature of their landscape.
Some of the succulents Neville really admires include the Echeveria or Houseleek, they have a cabbage like form but amazing variations on the theme. The curly leafed Pigs Ear Plant creates a beaut silver border for garden beds. The spectacular everblooming Euphorbia ‘Apache’ is an indestructible pot specimen.
Soil improvement is at the heart of the success of this garden in such deep infertile sandy soil. Well rotted animal manures compost bagged soil improvers and Biowise soil conditioner are all fabulous value when it comes to adding moisture and fertiliser holding capacity to our soils.
Bores are great value in the garden, the additional costs of securing your own water supply are acknowledged and I think it is a fair thing that you have extra leeway in watering your garden as a result. For gardeners that live below the line from Kalbarri you can water twice a week on specific days. Above that line you can water every second day.
In WA we have a plan for an assured water supply into the future for gardens, households, industry, agriculture, local councils, schools as well as the environmental uses. However, there is not a great margin for error, in other words there is no room for complacency. We all need to keep on message and actively practise water conservation.
Neville looked at the following plants
Houseleek (Echeveria cv.)
Pigs Ear (Cotyledon orbiculata)
Crown of Thorns (Euphorbia milii ‘Apache’)
Presenter: Neville Passmore
This week Neville visited some old friends in Wandi. Wandi is south of Perth, not far from the coast, and the garden has some excellent examples of gardening with a minimum of water. Roy and Veronica McGrath retired from the nursery industry to devote their lives to gardening, in other word just like Neville they are a pair of plant nutters. And like many western Australians they are committed to creating a water-smart garden.
Straight up we have to say well done to the McGraths and all Perth gardeners who have lead the country in water saving. For the last 6 years we have achieved annual savings of 45 gigalitres, despite rapid population growth and the toughest gardening conditions in the country, at the Garden Gurus we are very proud of you.
One of the principles of conserving water in the home environment is using climate appropriate plants. The business speciality of the Mc Graths was cacti and succulents so these plants are a significant feature of their landscape.
Some of the succulents Neville really admires include the Echeveria or Houseleek, they have a cabbage like form but amazing variations on the theme. The curly leafed Pigs Ear Plant creates a beaut silver border for garden beds. The spectacular everblooming Euphorbia ‘Apache’ is an indestructible pot specimen.
Soil improvement is at the heart of the success of this garden in such deep infertile sandy soil. Well rotted animal manures compost bagged soil improvers and Biowise soil conditioner are all fabulous value when it comes to adding moisture and fertiliser holding capacity to our soils.
Bores are great value in the garden, the additional costs of securing your own water supply are acknowledged and I think it is a fair thing that you have extra leeway in watering your garden as a result. For gardeners that live below the line from Kalbarri you can water twice a week on specific days. Above that line you can water every second day.
In WA we have a plan for an assured water supply into the future for gardens, households, industry, agriculture, local councils, schools as well as the environmental uses. However, there is not a great margin for error, in other words there is no room for complacency. We all need to keep on message and actively practise water conservation.
Neville looked at the following plants
Houseleek (Echeveria cv.)
Pigs Ear (Cotyledon orbiculata)
Crown of Thorns (Euphorbia milii ‘Apache’)
AS SEEN ON 
