Alice Water Smart has today launched a new
web-based tool that works out the ideal garden watering schedule for Alice
Springs’ gardens and the local environment.It is the first tool of its kind for arid Australia, and was developed in partnership with the national savewater!® Alliance. Its launch also coincides with the launch of Alice Water Smart’s new website.
In just a couple of minutes, anyone who
owns a garden in Alice Springs, whether they be home or business owners, can
find out how much water to use and when. It also compares the recommended
schedule with current use, so gardeners can see how much water they can save.
Alice Water Smart Project Manager Les
Seddon says that more than half of all water wasted in Alice Springs is through
overwatering plants.
We have completed more than 1000 Water
Efficiency Consultations and found that overwatering is the biggest culprit in
water waste.”
“The Garden Watering Planner will help
Alice Springs garden owners save water, money and time. It is incredibly easy
to use and each homeowner can print out a personalised watering schedule for
their garden.”
“For a long time, Alice residents have
found it difficult to work out how much water their garden actually needs and
very few were getting it right.”
There are so many variables, such as
plant age, size and root depth, as well as the types of irrigation being used
and our unique climate. No wonder it is confusing!”
“The Planner takes into account our
varying climate, such as the mid-February heat when plants are under the most
stress, and the mid-winter frosts when water in irrigation pipes is at risk of
freezing.”
It also works out the best watering
schedule for different types of plants, such as natives and drought tolerant
plants, grape vines, citrus, palm trees, vegetables and lawn areas.
For example, if you want to know the
recommended frequency and duration to water native shrubs that are between 3-12
months old, the Garden Watering Planner will do that for you.
The personalised report details the ideal
watering schedule for each season and offers advice on the best types of
irrigation to use for those plants.
The average water saved from making a
simple irrigation change, such as scheduling or the type of sprinkler pop-up
used, is around 224 kilolitres, or $390 per year.
Garden design, local Alice Springs plants,
and the importance of root depth are also features of the Water Planner.
“Many
residents water their gardens every day. This is encouraging shallow roots,
which are prone to heat stress, dry out quickly and can only access a small
amount of water.”
“We
recommend watering longer and less often to encourage deep-rooted plants.
The roots live in cooler soil and can access more water so they help the plant
better cope with hot, dry periods.”
The
Alice Springs Garden Watering Planner can be found at www.alicewatersmart.com.au
Alice
Water Smart is supported by the Australian Government.
