Episode: WA Garden Gurus Special - Summer Gardens
Presenter: Sue McDougall

There are hundreds of varieties of plants available in Garden Centres and it is easy to become daunted by the huge selection available when establishing a garden. Often a small plant in a pot looks so different when it starts growing in the ground and how do you really know how much water the plant needs when it gets established?

The Water Corporation along with Waterwise Garden centres have developed the Waterwise plants for Perth Programme. An exciting new project designed to educate gardeners next time they are selecting a plant for a new garden or filling in some gaps in an existing one to select plants from this programme.

The list contains both native and exotic species and the criteria for them to be selected on the list is they only require occasional watering during the summer months once they are established. In fact some of the plants won?t need any additional watering at all.

A glazed bowl will make a spectacular waterwise feature in any garden and if you plant it up with an Aloe (Aloe polyphylla), which is a succulent; it can take full hot blasting sun right through summer. Mulching with rocks also helps to reduce evaporation.

Silver Convovulus (Convovulus cneorum) are perfect for borders and grow brilliantly in full sun. The silver foliage contrasts against burgundy brilliantly

The Indian Hawthorn (Rhaphiolepsis x delacourii cv.) is one of those shrubs that has been forgotten about which is hard to understand as it develops beautiful white flowers in spring and after it has gorgeous glossy foliage. While it looks exotic, it grows in some of the toughest spots in your garden.

The addition of a wetting agent is going to help the plants take advantage of any extra water that happens to come by their way rather than it running off the soil surface because the soil can become water repellent very quickly. Apply a wetting agent now and then again in January or February.

All the plants need when it comes to feeding is some controlled release fertiliser sprinkled around the roots system in Autumn and Spring.

So next time you are looking to do up a new garden, choose a waterwise plant every time, you will definitely save water, money and time.

The Water Corporation
www.watercorporation.com,au

Water Wise Garden Centres
http://www.watercorporation.com.au/W/waterwise_garden_centres.cfm

Waterwise Plants for Perth
http://www.watercorporation.com.au/w/waterwise_plants_perth_alpha.cfm
(common name alphabetical listing)

Featured Products

Rich-Gro Ezi Wet

• The only soil wetter approved under the Smart Approved Watermark scheme
• Makes the water soak into the soil rather than running off the surface
• Will reduce the surface tension of the soils so the water soaks in.
• Available in both granular and liquids form