WATER SAVING GARDENINGIn the Upper Hunter

R.J. (Jeff) Esdaile AM B.Sc. Agr.Agronomist/Consultant (retired)

2001 2017

WATER IS A SCARCE RESOURCE

• Water is limited• Water is costly.• Droughts will occur• Climate change / higher temperatures indicate that

plants may need an estimated 8% increase in water supply to maintain the status quo.

• Demand by others may increase in the future (industry, population pressures)

SOME LOCAL NUMBERSAverage annual rainfall Scone (long term) 640 mm

Actual annual rainfall Scone 2017 360 mm

Average rainfall 1 Jan -9 Sept. Scone 2018 434 mm

Actual rainfall 1 Jan -9 Sept. Scone 2018 157 mm

Rainfall 2018 –Year to date 36% of average

HOW CAN WE USE LESS WATER?

• Mulch the garden adequately to prevent excess evaporation from the soil.

• Choose more drought/frost resistant plants.• Minimise lawn areas.• Use drip watering systems.• Spray out weeds and use less cultivation. • Install water tanks.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE WATER?

MULCH THE GARDEN.

• Mulch insulates the soil from the atmosphere. Cooler in summer, warmer in winter

• Mulch lessens soil surface evaporation by 25-80%.

• Mulch suppresses weeds.• Mulch is readily available.• Lawn clippings and other discarded plant

material is useful mulch.

SOME LOCAL EXAMPLES OF ALTERNATIVE GARDEN STYLES

SCONE SCONE

SCONE SINGLETON

OUR CURRENT DEVELOPMENTAustralian plants + mulch + drippers

SOME SMALL EUCALYPTS

E. Preissiana - Bell Fruited Mallee E. Leucoxylon - Euky Dwarf

E. Pauciflora - Little Snowman E. Wimmerinensis – Tucker Time Honey Pots

Callistemon Spp. – Bottle brushes

Callistemon -Endeavour

Callistemon Linearis

Callistemon – Perth Pink

Callistemon – Little John

Melaleuca Spp. Tea trees

Melaleuca fulgens Melaleuca Thymifolia

Melaleuca Wilsonii Melaleuca incana dwarf

Acacia Spp. - Wattles

Snowy River wattle Bent leaf wattle

Mudgee wattleWeeping Boree

Grevilleas (check frost tolerance)

Grevillea floribundaGrevillea austriflora- Canterbury gold

Grevillea - John Evans Grevillea – Robyn Gordon

WEEDS WASTE WATER!We spray out weeds with knockdown herbicide, and leave dead remains on soil surface to act as mulch. (read herbicide label before use)Weed treatment on our 2000 sq.m. block takes 20-30 minutes.

Water tanks on our house and shed, and a small portable electric pump to help water supply for the drip irrigation system.

WE USE DRIP WATERING SYSTEMS

• Drip irrigation uses less water. Less evaporation loss.

• Drip irrigation puts the water only on the desired plant(s).

• 20-30 plants can be simultaneously watered.We attach hose to a section- leave as long as desired, then move to the next section.

Do we need large areas of green lawn?

• We water only strategic areas of lawn.• This will be largely restricted to the clothes line area,

and entertaining space.• Elsewhere we grow trees /shrubs/groundcovers with

mulch.• Alternate areas can have pebbles, pavers etc.• All garden beds are on drippers.

IN SUMMARY

• Mulch everything.

• Plant drought tolerant native plants.

• Water with drippers.

• Minimise lawn area.

• Extra lawn – switch to low upkeep.

• Use stored water.

• Less tillage.

WE RECOMMEND

Tamworth has a climate very similar to Upper Hunter. (temperature, rainfall, frost, day length & soil types)This is an excellent reference -80 pages.

This publication covers large trees, medium and small trees, large & small Shrubs and groundcovers.It can be downloaded for free from:http://www.tamworth.nsw.gov.au/Environment/What-Plants-Suit-the-Tamworth-Region/default.aspx

Other useful information re Australian plants is also on this internet page.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Useful references:Back yard Eucalypts for Tamworth (Tony Croft)North West Grevilleas (Warren Sheather)Small Eucalypts (unknown author)Small Eucalypts for Canberra gardens. (Yarralumla nursery)Wattles for Northern NSW gardens (Warren Sheather)(I can email copies to interested persons)Gardening with Angus https://www.gardeningwithangus.com.au/

This book by Wrigley and Fagg is the ‘Bible’ for Australian plant enthusiasts. It is available in Upper Hunter library.

THANK YOU