Gardening rules
On Stage 2 water restrictions, can I water my lawn?
On Stage 2 water restrictions, can I water my garden?
Can I hose in wetting agents?
How do I water / keep my vegetable garden healthy?
Watering days for gardens
On Stage 2, when can I water my garden?
What if I don't have a house number?
What if my automatic dripper system doesn't allow me to water on my set days?
On Stage 2 water restrictions, can I water my lawn?
No. A complete ban on watering lawns remains for residents and businesses however;
alternate sources (e.g., rainwater tank water or grey water) can be used at any time.
On Stage 2 water restrictions, can I water my garden?
Yes, on Stage 2 Melburnians can:
- Use manual watering systems to water plants as required from 6 - 8 am or 8 - 10 pm on your watering days.
- If someone in your household is 70 years or over, you can water plants using a manual watering system between 8 - 10 am instead of 6 - 8 am, and still between 8 - 10 pm on your specified watering days.
- Use automatic watering systems to water plants between midnight and 4 am on your watering days.
- Hand water using a watering can, bucket or hand held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle as needed - any time.
Remember to water according to your plant's needs rather than for the full time period allowed.
Can I hose in wetting agents?
You can hose in wetting agents in your garden on your watering days within your permitted watering times using a hand held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle. You may not hose in wetting agents for lawn. Melbourne is on Stage 2 water restrictions and a lawn can not be watered at anytime.
You can apply wetting agents, fertilisers, etc., to lawn or garden area just prior to rain or customers may use an alternative water supply such as greywater, rain water etc.
How do I water / keep my vegetable garden healthy?
You can:
- Water your vegetable garden on your designated watering days;
- Use a watering can, bucket or tirgger nozzle as needed - at any time;
- Use rainwater;
- Collect drinking water while waiting for the water to heat up in the kitchen, bath and shower as well as rinse water from washing fruit or vegetables;
- Consider using a sunshade to protect your plants from direct sun during the heat of the day;
- Speak to your local nursery or garden centre for more tips.
Other tips for keeping your vegetable garden healthy:
- Good soil preparation is essential. It is important that the soil has the capacity to hold enough water and nutrients to sustain a good crop, and this means you need to add plenty of compost and organic matter to the soil.
- Use organic mulches like pea straw or Lucerne. They help to conserve moisture and break down relatively quickly, improving the structure and fertility of the soil.
- Mix water-storing crystals through the soil before planting your crop. They store water near the plant roots enabling plants to draw water, as they need it. As a consequence plants are better able to withstand dry weather conditions and infrequent watering.
- Fertilise - regular doses of plant tonics and soil conditioners can help plants to cope with stresses like heat and dehydration. They increase root development for optimal water uptake and improve plants' natural resistance to insect and fungal attack - which is a good thing because healthier plants are less susceptible to stress. They also stimulate the root system of plants and increases reproductive capacity - which means more flowers and fruit.
- For vegetables that have already been planted - poke vertical holes into the soil or potting mix around the root zone and trickle a small amount of crystals into each hole. Top off with soil or potting mix and water throroughly.
Watering days for gardens
On Stage 2, when can I water my garden?
Watering days remain unchanged and people can water on odd and even days, using a date-based approach:
* Even and no-numbered properties can water plants on even numbered days e.g. 2nd, 4th,
6th, etc. (within permitted times).
* Odd numbered properties can water plants on odd numbered days e.g. 1st, 3rd, 5th, etc.
(within permitted times).
* All properties can water on the 31st (within permitted times).
What if I don't have a house number?
Where there is no house number the property is considered as an 'even' numbered house.
What if I live in an apartment or unit?
If you live in an apartment or unit your watering day is determined by your property address, not your apartment or unit number. Essentially use the last number of your street address as your guide!
What if my automatic watering system doesn’t allow me to water on my set days?
There are a number of options available to customers in this situation:
- You can just maually flip the 'on' switch on your watering system on your set watering day versus pre-programming.
- Re-read the instructions of your system - our research shows that up to 40 per cent of automatic watering system owners do not know how to program their system - otherwise contact the manufacturer for more information.
- Your wateringsystem may handle ‘set’ days of the week (ie Sat & Tue). If this is the case you will be able to program your system to manage a weeks watering in advance – requiring you to reset your program once weekly.
- If your watering system does not handle either of these options, perhaps it can be upgraded with additional hardware to make it perform as required under restriction rules. Speak to your product manufacturer or contact your local Water Saver Garden Centre.
- Alternatively you can switch over your automatic watering system to the manual setting and water according to the manual watering restrictions.
Note: Since 1 September 2005 any new automatic watering system installed is required by law to have a rain or soil moisture sensor controller integrated into the system. We recommend that older systems be fitted with such sensors too – in fact it is compulsory for councils to have these sensors on any automatic watering system.