Website to help gardens stay green over summer

As rising temperatures threaten to wilt gardens across Melbourne, a state of the art interactive website is being used to show gardeners the most efficient way to plan gardens and save water.

SmartGardenWatering.org.au was created by the University of Melbourne with the support of the Smart Water Fund, and is the most comprehensive garden watering tool available for the metropolitan Melbourne area.

The easy-to-use website enables gardeners to create a virtual model of their garden divided into zones. A tailored monthly water schedule is generated based on the user’s postcode, factoring in plant selection, soil and mulch types, wind and sun exposure, average rainfall, and the type of watering techniques used.  

Green-thumbed Melburnians planning to use the summer holiday period to refresh or establish new sections of their gardens can use the website to compare the water consumption of different plant species, and compare the water saving benefits of a range of watering techniques.

Project manager Geoff Connellan says the tool educates gardeners about the most effective seasonal watering schedules: “As Melburnians continue to deal with drought and water restrictions they need to adapt their watering habits, and this website can help show them how,” he said. 

The tool is designed specifically for Melbourne and Geelong and covers more than 1,500 plant species, utilising the Burnley Plant Directory developed by the University of Melbourne.

“SmartGardenWatering.org.au also incorporates a rainwater tank calculator that allows users to explore their capacity to supply water to their gardens throughout the year,” Mr Connellan says.

With ongoing water restrictions testing the creativity of many gardeners, the website is a tool that will help gardeners become more water efficient without sacrificing an important part of their lives.

The savewater!^® Alliance has endorsed SmartGardenWatering.org.au as an innovative way to educate the community about water efficiency.

To access the SmartGardenWatering tool visit www.smartgardenwatering.org.au

About the Smart Water Fund: A joint initiative of Melbourne’s water businesses and the Victorian Government, the Smart Water Fund invests in research and innovation in urban water conservation, water recycling and biosolids management. Since its inception in 2002, the Fund has invested approximately $28 million in over 170 projects.

Smart Water Fund projects have created a wealth of water saving knowledge available for the community and industry to access at www.smartwater.com.au