Gardening In The Big Australian Drought Right Now?

Who are struggling with their gardens in the worst drought Aussie has known for over 100 years? We are all trying desperately to keep our gardens alive with what has been tagged 'waterwise' plants %26amp; the use of hardly any water at all for our gardens. It's a desperate time for garden lovers either for vegetable patches or trees, shrubs %26amp; flowers. I would like to hear from any other Aussie garden lovers how they are coping keeping anything alive in their gardens. Also, how are other parts of the World doing. Are there water shortages anywhere else? If so, how is it being dealt with in your part of the World?

Gardening In The Big Australian Drought Right Now?
Hi Kathy,

I live in NSW and for the last 2 years I have been watering my garden with my washing machine water.



I bought 2 Gray water hoses from Bunnings and joined them together to reach all around the garden. I let the washing machine water empty into my stainless steel tub then I siphon the water out of the tub to water my garden.



If you have a lot of Australian native plants don't use washing powder with phosphate in it. Or only use the rinse water on them. Australian native plants don't do well with phosphates.



There are a couple of brands of washing powder that have No Phosphate. Planet Ark, Bio Jet (it’s in a green box) and Coles home brand.



When you are the laundry detergent section of the supermarket it’s easy to tell the laundry detergents that have phosphate or No phosphate. Look at the box and you will see the letter (P) for Phosphate and (NP) for No Phosphate.





I use Cold power washing powder and it has phosphate in it and my garden is thriving. I even use the water with fabric softener in it.



The other thing you and do is buy a water diverter and fit it where the shower water drains out side, you can buy one at the local hardware shop. While you take a shower you can be watering your garden at the same time. Don’t worry if the shower water is still warm when it reaches the garden. If it’s not to hot for you, it’s not to hot for the Garden.



If you can’t fit a water diverter then take your showers in your bath tub, then siphon the water out or buy a small bilge pump and pump it out for your garden. If you have a strong back you can also bucket the water out.



The bonus thing about using the laundry water is it a bit like watering your garden with the product called Wetter Soil Wetting Agent. Its makes water wetter and penetrate the soil better.



http://www.global-garden.com.au/burnley/...



Hope this help you out and saves your garden.
Reply:Hello, I am in the United States, and altho I am not in a drought right now, At other times we have been. It is terrible not being able to water the grass and greenery. We have had water bans in the past also - not a good thing. I've been lucky as I have a well and hope to always have water. bettyk
Reply:In the UK they have hose pipes bans in hte summer. But it rains everyday (it actually does) so everyones is really annoyed as we must lose our water in pipe leaks.



Growing cactuses could be fun lol. Don't native Australian plants survive droughts well? I thought u guys never had any rain.
Reply:see www.bellis.info for an entertaining and enlightening experience on gardening in the drought, and watch gardening australia - i know you were after an exotic approach but these are area specific solutions