How to
Create a Waterwise Garden
Help your garden survive through tough, dry times:
- Mix Yates Waterwise water storage crystals into the soil before any new planting. For existing plants, spoon Waterwise Crystals into vertical holes poked down into the root area.
- Choose plants that have good drought tolerance. Look for plants with small, hard or hairy leaves that have evolved in dry climates.
- Water or spread Yates Waterwise soil wetters (either dry or liquid, depending on your preference) around the base of the plant. These will help get maximum water into the roots. Mixing compost into the soil will also improve water retention.
- Mulch around the base of the plant to keep moisture in the soil.
- Spray vulnerable plants with Yates Stressguard. This reduces evaporation from the leaves and acts as a sunscreen, protecting tender leaves from sunburn.
- Feed plants with gentle, organic Dynamic Lifter pellets during dry periods. These don’t need to be watered in straight away but they’ll be there to take advantage of any moisture that becomes available.
- Water into the root area so maximum moisture gets in where plants can use it.
Water is a precious resource – one that should be used wisely in the garden and never taken for granted.
Tips for growing a waterwise garden
- Grow plants that have good drought tolerance. Look for plants with small, hard or hairy leaves that have evolved in dry climates.
- Mulch around the base of plants to keep moisture in the soil. Organic mulch breaks down to improve the soil.
- Group plants together according to how much water they need.
- Wherever possible, replace lawns and garden beds with hard materials such as paving.
- Fertilise with organic plants foods (such as Dynamic Lifter pellets) or liquids.
- Improve soils by mixing in compost. This will help the soil to hold more water.
- Grow thirsty plants in pots where they’re easy to water. Pot into Terracotta & Tub mix and treat porous pots with Yates Pot-A-Seal before planting.
Tips for effective watering
- Water deeply to encourage roots to move down into the soil.
- Apply water with a wand or a water breaker. This helps it to penetrate more easily.
- Water into the root area so maximum moisture gets in where the plants can use it.
Tips to help water go further
- Yates Waterwise or Rainsaver Water Storage Crystals absorb and hold water. Dig them into the soil at planting time so they act as a source of extra moisture.
- Yates Waterwise soil wetters help water to penetrate the soil and get straight into the roots.
- Yates Stressguard reduces the amount of water lost through the leaves. Spray onto vulnerable plants to cut down moisture loss, and protect from sunburn, heat and wind.
- Yates Waterwise Peat makes an effective mulch and a natural water-storing soil additive.
Shopping list
- Yates Pot-A-Seal
- Yates Waterwise Soil Wetters
- Yates Stressguard
- Yates Waterwise Peat
- Yates Waterwise Water Storing Crystals
Waterwise calendar
| Autumn | Winter | Spring | Summer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Use autumn leaves to make mulch and soil-improving compost. | Install new irrigation systems. Add water storage crystals to the soil where new roses are to be planted. | Apply soil wetters to lawns and garden beds. | Renew mulch layers on garden beds. |
Some popular plant choices for the waterwise garden
Grevilleas, bottlebrush, lavender, gazanias, strelitzia, nandina, bromeliads, agaves, echiums, kangaroo paws, rosemary, lomandra.
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