Australian summers are great for enjoying the great outdoors, but our outdoors need to be well looked after to survive, and that includes your backyard.

A well-groomed and carefully maintained garden takes effort and dedication, particularly in the extreme heat. It’s important to regularly water your gardens in the summer, however doing it in a way that minimises water wastage and maximises absorption is key.

How and when you should water your gardens can depend on the type of plants you have, and the climate your region experiences.

Here’s how and when you should water your garden for maximum water efficiency:

Water your plants in the mornings or evenings:

Before the sun gets too hot, you should water early in the morning or late in the evening, so the water can’t evaporate from the heat before the plants have the chance to absorb it. Avoid watering the foliage in the evenings and aim directly at the root instead to avoid fungal issues.

Water, then water again:

Often watering will only allow water to reach the upper roots. You should water your plants, and then re-water immediately afterwards to allow the water to be absorbed at a deeper root level. Watering to a lesser root level, more frequently, increases the rate of evaporation and can lead to weak roots.

Avoid water logging:

Keeping in mind the point above, you should avoid water-logging your plants. If the water looks to have gone beyond the point of absorption and is now pooling, you may have gone too far. As mentioned above, water adequately, allow to absorb, and come back to re-water for maximum absorption.

Use high quality soil:

Clay-rich soil is the best type of soil to nurture your plants, as this type of soil has optimal expanding properties, so it can absorb more water more evenly and will hold its moisture for longer. Sandy soil dries out faster, holds less water and is therefore less water efficient. Adding mulch to your garden will also help reduce the frequency of watering needed.

Water to the conditions:

This is an obvious one, but if it’s hot and dry, you’ll need to water your plants more regularly. If there’s rain on the forecast you won’t need to water as much, if at all.

Consider your plants:

Larger plants and newer plants need more frequent watering than smaller or existing plants. Planted vegetables and smaller container plants need daily watering, and in hot conditions they will need to be watered a few times a day.

Use an irrigation system:

Rather than wandering around the yard with a hose, you can install an irrigation system that’s specifically directed at the roots of the plants and avoids the foliage. These can be set to timers to do all the thinking and hard work for you.

An easy way to ensure there is adequate water year-round to water your gardens is to install a water tank. Water tanks are crucial for maximising the free water source of mother nature. If you have a water tank, you should consider installing gutter protection such as gutter guard mesh. Gutter guards are essential for providing fresh, clean water to your water tanks.

Talk to Aussie Gutter Protection about maximising clean water for your water tank. They can develop a customised gutter guard solution for your home and drainage systems to ensure your gutter water flows freely, and is free from debris such as insects, sticks and leave.

Call Aussie Gutter Protection to discuss your needs, or for a free quote.