Update 1 December 2020: As a result of our dams being close to capacity, the NSW Government has announced that Level 1 water restrictions are to be replaced with permanent Water Wise Guidelines as of 1 December 2020.

The below advice applied from 1 December 2020 until 30 November 2020.

Despite recent downpours, in order to shore up Sydney's water supply for the future, Level 1 water restrictions for Sydney recommence on Sunday March 1, 2020. As members of the community, it's important for us all to play our part. We thought we'd take the opportunity to share what's allowed, what's not and some tips to ensure your garden continues to thrive while doing our bit to preserve water.

Luckily for us green thumbs, Level 1 water restrictions don’t have a big impact on garden care. In fact, they adhere to the general principles of smart watering. Below is a handy quick-reference guide to watering during Level 1 restrictions from Sydney Water.

 

Watering lawns and gardens during Level 1 water restrictions

You can... You can't...
  • Water lawns and gardens by hand-held hose before 10am or after 4pm, as long as your hose is fitted with a trigger nozzle.
  • Water lawns and gardens with a watering can or bucket before 10am or after 4pm.
  • Water your gardens with drip irrigation systems.
  • Water lawns and gardens with compliant 'smart' watering systems with one or more of the following features:
    • Automated weather adjustment
    • Rain sensor
    • Soil moisture sensor
  • Water new turf for up to four weeks after it's delivered, following the watering plan outlined by Sydney Water.
  • Water your garden using standard sprinklers or watering systems.
  • Allow water to run off on to hard surfaces, such as paths or roadways.
  • Put sprinklers on for children to play under.

Information from Sydney Water, 02/03/2020.

 

Our water-wise gardening tips

Both in and out of water restriction periods, there are plenty of things we can do as gardeners to help conserve water - and at the same time, ensure our plants get the very best out of the water we give them. In fact, our garden experts' top 4 water-wise gardening tips align perfectly with the Level 1 restrictions set out above!

  1. Timing is everything. Water your garden in the early morning, so the water can reach the roots of your plants without too much evaporating away. Not an early riser? You can use a tap timer in conjunction with a compliant watering system to ensure your irrigation occurs exactly when you want it to.
  2. Work smarter, not harder. Use effective, compliant watering systems and always focus your watering on the soil around the root zone - that's where your plant will gain the most benefit. A thorough soaking less often is a far more effective way to water most garden plants than frequent light sprinkles that may only wet the foliage and not the soil. Time to upgrade your watering equipment? Click here to view our range.
  3. Mulch magic. Mulching isn't just a way of making your garden beds look pretty - it also performs the important function of helping to keep the soil temperature down. This helps prevent evaporation and therefore keeps the moisture in the soil for longer. Organic mulches will break down over time and need replacing, however will also add beneficial nutrients to the soil. Inorganic mulches like pebbles won't break down, but are more effective at cooling the soil. Pop a layer down of about 5cm of your chosen mulch over your soil. Browse our range of mulches here.
  4. A helping hand. Some soils are a little on the hydrophobic side and naturally repel water, especially in drought conditions - but that's easily fixed. If your soil or potting mix is hard to wet, apply a soil wetting agent such as Amgrow Wettasoil to help it absorb and retain water.

 

Recycling water

At Flower Power, we are also strong advocates of water recycling. Across our garden centres and our large growing facility, we utilise a range of recycling techniques including bore water, dam water, rainwater tanks and the redirection of excess garden bed water to tanks, to ensure that we use water efficiently and help conserve Sydney’s drinking water supply.

For those who are interested in recycling water, Flower Power can deliver, fit and install rainwater tanks. Click here for more information.