Replanting and Establishing Lawn and Gardens
With the wintry weather setting in, it’s time to assess ‘what went wrong’ last summer in the garden. Rather than repurchasing all the dead plants, take time now to look at the reasons why a plant may not have survived. Was the plant positioned poorly? Is the soil around your property bad at retaining water?
Now is also the right time to plant bulbs, citrus trees, spring-flowering annuals and roses. By purchasing deciduous plants now, you will see the autumn colours to be expected next year. You can also plant broccoli, spring onions and sugar snap peas – provide lots of composted soil and watch out for pests.
May is also a great time to establish a new lawn, as it allows for roots to establish before next season’s heat. However, unless you need a cricket pitch, restrict lawns to areas of heavy foot traffic in favour of garden beds. For new garden beds and lawns, apply a layer of soil wetting agent when planting. Also, consider using native grasses, which have deeper root systems and are adapted to Australia’s low-fertility soils.
*Water Supply Options*
After the summer months, a lot of owners will be looking with despair at their burnt-out gardens. While the majority of Perth households use mains water on their gardens, this is increasingly impractical due to water restrictions and rising water prices.
The most logical solution to this problem would be to sink a bore on your property – but this is easier said than done. Nationally, states have imposed bore-watering restrictions; Western Australia imposes daytime watering restrictions, even on bores. Recent news coverage has focused on the dire situation of the Gnangara Mound (Perth’s groundwater supply) and its flow-on effect (or lack thereof) on Perth’s lakes. A visit to the parched Hyde Park or Shenton Park Lakes is visual evidence that restrictions on groundwater use will be very much in line with current mains water restrictions.
The next available option is installing rainwater tanks, which while about five times more energy efficient than desalination plants are used by only 6% of Perth housesholds. Archicentre, the building advisory service of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects, has detailed emerging new designs. These include the incorporation of rainwater tanks into fences and as prefabricated house walls. It also points to larger gutter sizes and the installation of grey water treatment systems to maximize the water-saving effectiveness of every household.
In an Archicentre February 2007 survey, 79% of home purchasers said they would opt for the water tank over a spa or large plasma screen as a property feature. This response recognises the garden as a major property asset – a $2,000-$3,000 investment in a water tank (minus rebates) is a small price to pay for a potentially significant impact on resale value.
For details on waterwise gardening and a directory of plants appropriate to the Perth climate, visit watercorporation.com.au.
