Summary:
Are you looking at updating your strata company’s garden this season? Have you considered swapping to native plants which need less water and fertiliser? Too much fertiliser will contaminate the groundwater and cause algal blooms in Perth’s rivers and lakes. Did you know that invasive plants are big threats to our bushland and environment? Many of these exotic plants have escaped from gardens and became weeds, taking over the habitat from native plants. We can’t forget that native plants provide food and habitat for native birds, bees, butterflies, and frogs. Here is some information that can help not only make your strata company more visually appealing but also save money and help the environment.
Community Garden
Is your strata company thinking about starting a community garden where residents can come together and grown their own produce? Don’t forget you can apply for an exemption from the sprinkler roster that applies to your area.
A community garden is defined as a garden that:
- Is managed by a community group and/or a not-for-profit organisation
- Involves the participation of the wider community and/or a specific community (e.g., retirement village) in the day-to-day operation of the garden
- Includes growing fruit, vegetables and herbs as primary activities Sounds great, how do I apply? Have you checked your irrigation system this season?
Irrigation
- Invest in an automatic irrigation controller – you can program it to switch irrigation valves (stations) on and off at specific times, making watering your landscaping easy
- Know your watering days and stick to the rules
- Earlier is better, prior to 9am is the best practice. This allows the water to soak in before the heat sets in, reducing the chance of evaporation.
- Before the season starts check and replace any worn nozzles, broken seals and leaking pipes and solenoid values with high quality fixtures
- Keep the irrigation manual handy. This helps to carry out any necessary setting changes or troubleshooting.
- When purchasing an irrigation system look for one with a rain sensor which can save you money in Perth’s unpredictable weather.
- Know your watering days. You risk a $100 fine by watering during the day and/or breaching your watering roster.
Lacking in space?
Consider whether a vertical garden is more suitable for your strata scheme. A vertical garden can not only save on space but also creates screening for privacy, adding colour to walls too.
- Improve the strata schemes appearance
- Reduce the heat
- Reduce carbon footprint
Improve your soil
Sandy soil, commonly found in WA, has a low water and nutrient holding capacity. Soil varies from region to region so understand what characteristics that might apply to your soil. Here are some handy tips on how to improve your soil:
- Adding clays can improve water and nutrient holding capacity
- Add compost for healthy growth
- Add a wetting agent
- Add mulch which reduce water waste
Is the Pool wasting water?
A pool cover can save money not only on energy but pool chemical costs too, while slowing down corrosion of your pool. When choosing a pool cover, look for the Waterwise and Smart Approved WaterMark symbols. All Waterwise products have been endorsed by Water Corporation, with support from Smart Approved Watermark - Australia's water conservation label.