Aussie Tough! - Drought Resistant Lawn & Drought Tolerant Grasses

Drought resistant lawn and drought tolerant grasses.

Australia's drought conditions are bringing about changes in the way we landscape our gardens.

Of particular concern is the traditional front or back lawn. While some people may decide to replace their lawn with drought resistant plants, others don't wish to give up the attractive spread of green which has had its place in Australian gardens for so long. A place for kids to play, dogs to frolic, and somewhere maybe to sprawl on a fine sunny day, enjoying the outdoors.

But in times of drought in Australia, the kind of lawn we grow is worth considering. 

A drought resistant grass type is much more practical and sensible, requiring less frequent use of our precious resource- water- and therefore also costing us less in water charges.

Drought tolerant grasses are specially developed to withstand hotter drier conditions, and to go for longer periods between watering. They are also fairly resilient if they do get starved of water- even after a prolonged period they will usually spring back to healthy, green life after the rain, or watering, begins again. So, with a lot of drought resistant lawns, (especially those with rhizomes) there is no need to be too concerned if dry brown patches do appear during summer.

You can help "train" your drought tolerant lawn to become even more resistant by giving it deep waterings, spread well apart. Once a week is usually sufficient, once the lawn has taken vigorous hold. Frequent shorter watering does not encourage deep root development, and the grass therefore has to rely more on what its roots can reach near the surface.

Some of the varieties recommended for drought resilience are:

Buffalo Grass

There are several different varieties of Buffalo grass, each with their own good and bad points.

• Drought resistant
• Grows well in hot climates
• Hardy. Resistant to herbicides and fungus
• Grows reasonably in shade
• Great kids play area grass, as it is soft to touch
• Less invasive in garden beds than some lawn grasses
• Needs less mowing than some other grasses
  
  

Couch

• Once again, there are several varieties.
• Very heat and drought resistant
• Needs less water than most other grasses
• Grows in filtered sunlight
• An inexpensive grass
• Hardy
• Generally non irritating to skin, so good for kids to play on
• Resistant to pests and diseases

Kikuyu

• Very drought resistant
• Grows fast when plentiful water returns
• Needs regular mowing
• Grows very rapidly in a sunny, warm climate
• One of the less expensive lawn grasses
• Hardy, can withstand heavy traffic
• Spreads via runners
  

Empire Zoysia

• One of the most drought resistant lawns
• Keeps good appearance even with little water
• Cold hardy
• Low maintenance
• Rhizomes
• Sun & moderate shade
• Tough and hard wearing
• Out competes weeds well
• Disease and pest tolerant
• Grows well in clay and sandy soils
• Can be grown throughout Australia

But for many people, a lawn just wouldn't be the same without the living feel of it, or the wonderful scent when it is freshly mown!

Some grasses do better in shade or full sun than others, so choose appropriately for your conditions.

Soil type is also a consideration. You will also find a difference in costs with different varieties of drought resistant grasses, so make sure you look into this if it is an issue.

Of course, the most drought resistant "grass" is artificial lawn. These days there are some quite good realistic ones available, so for no water or regular maintenance, this may be a choice worth considering.


Check out further information online for more details about drought resistant grasses, as well as how to plant and care for a well planned drought tolerant lawn.

Happy Mowing!

Rainwater Tank Tips, Types & Rebates

Rainwater Tanks - Saving Water and Money

On the driest continent on earth it makes sense to save every drop of water possible, especially in light of recent water use restrictions. 


It just makes no sense to waste a perfectly good source of high quality water. A rain water tank can be a wonderful help for your household in dry and drought conditions... or indeed at any time. Clean, fresh drinking water, or supplemental water for your garden or other household needs.

If you are building a new house, in a lot of areas it is now compulsory for domestic rain water tanks to be installed. Rural rainwater tanks are, of course, almost essential for any country property. 

Rain water tanks are the optimal way in Australian conditions to harvest rain water and store it for meaningful use.

Rain water tanks can be bought in a large variety of pre-made styles and sizes, or some companies offer made to order tanks.




Slimline rainwater tanks 

These have the advantage of being available in a variety of sleek shape contours and sizes, so that they can fit into small cramped spaces. Perfect if you have little or no backyard, or if a slimline tank would just be the best option for the space you wish to install it.


Modular rain water tank

With similar advantage to slimline models, these come in different sizes, with varying numbers of modules to suit any size space or rainwater needs.


Water Wall 

Narrow, tall wall like rain water tank constructions. Useful for long spaces, with not much depth.


Inground Rainwater Tanks

Installed under ground these tanks are ideal for limited space. They can be placed underneath a driveway or pathway, still allowing for traffic-able use of this area. These tanks can be small, just for short term use, or can also be quite large, if you wish, enabling you to use them as rain water storage tanks.


Rain Water Bladders 

New flexible rainwater storage systems that can be placed under decks or floors making it much more discrete than traditional water tanks. Yard space is also not taken up by this system. 

The bladders are made from puncture resistant PVC material. They can store large amounts of water out of sight under your house or deck, as they are able to capture rainfall from most of the roofed area of your house, rather than just one or two collection points like a traditional rain tank. 

You may install as many bladders as you wish, or have room for. For ease of installation they can also be rolled or folded to fit through small access points.

Rainwater tanks can be made of several different materials:

Poly/Plastic rain water tanks
Light and strong, with a wide variety of sizes and shapes.

Fibreglass rainwater tanks
Also light and reinforced for strength. Many shapes and sizes available.

Concrete rain water tanks
Concrete tanks come in two types - either delivered complete, or poured on site.

Galvanized Steel rain water tanks
These days, most metal tanks are lined with a special liner material. These polyethylene linings prevent corrosion and ensure water quality.


Other points to consider are rain water tank pumps, to pump the water to your house, or other areas, the technicalities of plumbing your rainwater tank both on the collection and use sides, and rain water tank filters to ensure your water is free of debris and impurities. 

You should also ensure that leaf gutter guards are fitted to your gutters, and potential mosquito larvae infestation of your rain water tank is considered.

Recycled Grey Water Tanks 

There are even tanks which can hold and make use of shower and dish washing water etc. Revolutionary greywater treatment systems can enable you to treat your greywater and store it for as long as you like and then recycle it in the garden, use it to flush toilets and even re-use the water in the washing machine.


In most areas rainwater tank cost can be offset by government rainwater tank rebates, so check with your state government.



Information on RAINWATER TANK REBATE SCHEMES
across Australia:

QUEENSLAND
Brisbane & All QLD: http://www.nrw.qld.gov.au/water/saverscheme/index.html

Beaudesert Shire: http://www.bsc.qld.gov.au/council_information/Waterwise/Waterrebates.asp

Brisbane City Council: http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/BCC:BRISWATER::pc=PC_1460

Gold Coast City Council: http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/t_gcw.asp?PID=3992

Ipswich City Council: http://www.ipswichwater.com.au/environment/rebate/latest_news.php

Logan City Council: http://www.logan.qld.gov.au/LCC/residents/water/051209WaterSavingIncentives.htm

Pine Rivers Shire: http://www.prsc.qld.gov.au/c/prsc?a=da&did=1162798&pid=1128140783

Redcliffe City Council: http://www.redcliffe.qld.gov.au/water4.htm#Redcliffe%20Water%20rebates


NEW SOUTH WALES
Sydney: http://www.sydneywater.com.au/SavingWater/InYourGarden/RainwaterTanks/index.cfm

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY
Canberra: http://www.thinkwater.act.gov.au/tune-ups_rebates/rainwater_tank_rebate.shtml

VICTORIA
Melbourne & All VIC: http://www.ourwater.vic.gov.au/ourwater/dsenowof.nsf/

Northwest VIC: http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/dpi/nrenfa.nsf/LinkView/

SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Adelaide & All SA:http://www.sawater.com.au/SAWater/YourHome/SaveWaterInYourGarden/Rainwater+Tanks.htm

WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Perth & All WA:  http://water.wa.gov.au/portal/page/portal/WiseWaterUse/WaterwiseRebates/

Good luck with finding the best rainwater tank solution for your rain harvesting needs.

After The Rain…

Connecting Kids to Nature Activity

Rain… the bringer of changes… the awakener of new life.

After a few days of good rains, what changes can you find?  Venture out into your garden or area of bushland.  This can be even more effective if you have recently explored the area before the rains and taken photos and made notes about what it looks like after a dry spell, such as the summer months, and then revisit it after the first few rainy days of autumn, or in the winter.

What do you notice?  What has grown, appeared or changed?

Here’s some things to look for:

• Newly created anthills
• Running creeks
• Evidence of branches, sticks, leaves or rocks washed up on banks, or even into bushes or trees, showing that a volume of water has passed through
• Rock pools containing water that were dry before
• Water droplets on webs
• Pools in hollows in the ground
• Eroded channels in the soil, made by water
• Animal footprints in mud
• Moss appearing on tree trunks, rocks and the ground
• Newly sprouted seeds- can you tell what the plants might be?
• Mushrooms and toadstools springing up through the ground
• Colourful fungus sprouting on old logs
• What about insect or bird activity… is this any different?

Take photos of anything you discover and make notes in your nature journal or notebook.

You can continue to make observations of the area at different times of the year and after different weather conditions and record what changes occur.