How much water does my garden need?

On average WA households use around two-thirds of their water in the garden. On bigger properties that percentage can be even higher! Making sure you water efficiently is an easy way to save water and ensure your plants get the water they need to survive.

When is the best time to water?

You can help your plants by watering when it matters. You only need to water once on your rostered watering days, even if you’re using a bore.

On your rostered days, make sure you’re only watering once, either before 9am or after 6pm. Watering in the morning is best as the cooler temperature means less evaporation and allows plants to use water throughout the day when they need it most.

Hand watering

You can hand water any day of the week, preferably before 9am. Using a watering can or handheld hose with a nozzle is the most efficient way to hit the root zone and target specific plants that need water more than others. It also helps to avoid over watering.

How much should I water?

In Perth and the South West, your garden and lawn only need 10mm of water, twice a week in summer to sustain your garden and keep it healthy. This amount of water is ideal for filtering down to most plants’ feeding roots.

Watering more than this doesn’t provide your plants with any additional benefit. Overwatering can contribute to leaching vital nutrients from the soil.

Maintain your reticulation system

Reticulation systems use a lot of water and can often be the reason for a high water bill. By programming your tap timers and reticulation system correctly and regularly checking your system, you’ll nurture your garden, while using water efficiently.

Switch off your reticulation when rain is forecast

No matter the season, your irrigation system should always be turned off when it’s raining. It’s easy to do, just switch your controller to ‘off’, or select the ‘rain’ option, or press ‘snooze’.

We also urge you to follow the Winter Sprinkler Switch-off. The switch-off applies from 1 June – 31 August every year. You’ll reduce your water bill and bank savings for the hotter months when your garden really needs the water.