Tips for making the most of every drop include:
- avoid watering during the heat of the day to reduce evaporation
- mulch your garden to help retain moisture and
- give your soil some TLC with compost so any rain we do get can sink in
- watching the weather, so you can let mother nature do the work for you if rain is on its way
Many plants are much tougher than we think, so we need to be careful we’re not over-watering. It’s better to give your garden a drink less frequently, but for longer, to help encourage deeper root growth.
Sustainable plants:

Name: Sturt desert rose
Description: This small to medium sized shrub has mauve flowers with a darker red-eye, but there are also forms with white and yellow flowers. They are grown as garden plants and are cold and drought tolerant.
Water use: Minimal

Name: Bougainvillea
Description: These spectacular climbing shrubs have glorious flower displays with a range of colours and dark green foliage. They are very drought tolerant but cannot withstand repeated frosts and require well-drained soils.
Water use: Minimal

Name: Willow bottlebrush
Description: This small tree grows to 7m in height and produces an excellent weeping form when mature. This plant is a nectar and seed source for birds.
Water use: Minimal
Name: Grevillea
Description: This spreading shrub has dark green arching leaves. The grevillea is adaptable and bird attracting.
Water use: Minimal
Visit Smart Approved WaterMark for a list of over 700 water efficient plants and shrubs suitable for where you live.
Improving your soil
- mulch your garden to help retain moisture. Mulching reduces water evaporation from soil. It can also provide plants with important nutrients and control weed growth
- give your soil some TLC with compost so any rain we do get can sink in