ReadersDigest a Zofgardeningsecrets

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GARDENINGSECRETS

A-Z of



INTRODUCTION

In the ever-changing world of the garden, there is

always something to discover. This is particularly

the case if you’re just starting on your journey in

gardening. But even if you have a little knowledge or have

been gardening for years, there’ll be times when you feel the

need for some trusted tips and advice. For example, one year your

lemon tree doesn’t flower. Or your trees have grown into mature

specimens and turned sunny spots into shade. O r you want to gro

box hedge, or cover a pergola with flowering climbers. The changi

environment of the garden is full of possibilities. The more time I

spend gardening, and talking and writing about plants and garde

the more I realise how much there is still to learn !

That’s where A–Z of Gardening Secrets comes in. If you want to kn

how to keep your lawn in the best condition, prepare your soil for

planting or grow perfect roses, then this is t he book for you. It is a

indispensable garden guide that gets straight to the heart of the

problem with its handy A to Z format. Look up F for fertiliser to

discover the best way to feed your plants, S for shade to find a shr

that can thrive in a tricky spot, or turn to C for caterpillars to lea

how to stop these pesky critters eating your basil.

A–Z of Gardening Secrets is a book to keep close at hand. Dip into

when you’ve got a gardening problem to solve, want to learn a new

technique or simply want to be inspired by the beautiful photogra

and illustrations. Whatever your garden size, I’m sure it will beco

an essential part of your gardening tool k it.

Debbie McDonald

Writer, horticultural consultant and horticultural ed itor at

ABC Gardening Australia magazine



AAFRICAN VIOLETS | AGAPANTHUS

4

A ABELIAS | ACID SOIL

Testing your soil pHYou can buy a simple kit to discover

the pH value of your soil. Following the

instructions, place a teaspoon of soil

on the test card, then add drops of the

indicator liquid. Stir it into the soil

sample, adding more drops to form

a thick paste. Dust the paste with the

white powder provided, then wait for

1 minute until it changes colour. Matchthe colour of the soil sample with the

nearest pH value on the colour card.

Purple is alkaline, yellow is acid, and

green is neutral.

ABELIASThe sweetly scented flowers

of abelias are seen mainly in

summer and autumn and are

highly attractive to bees. The

flowering stems can be picked

and used indoors as they look

attractive in flower arrangements.

Abelias for hedgesMake a fast-growing, informal

hedge by planting glossy abelia

( Abelia × grandiflora) 1 m apart.

After the second year, prune

some of the older shoots near

the base of each plant to allow

for new growth, but otherwise

let the plant develop its natural

arching shape.

A touch of goldThe gold colour of the variegated

abelia cultivar ‘Francis Mason’

will be more intense in full sun

and in poorer soils. It is an ideal

choice for a hedge or border in

a sunny spot. ‘Francis Mason’

grows to around 1.5 m. ‘Sunrise’

(1.8 m) has attractive red-bronze

autumn colour, ‘Prostrata’ (60 cm)

is a fragrant groundcover and

‘Sherwoodii’ (1.2 m) makes a good

compact hedge.

Members of the Protea family, including the South African king protea and many

Australian natives, have adapted to the acid soils common in those countries.

ACID SOIL

The acid testYou can find out the pH (acid or

alkaline balance) of your soil by

using a soil-testing kit, available

from most nurseries. Acid soils

show a pH less than 7 (neutral).

Vegetation can also be a crude

guide to soil acidity. The presence

of carpet grass and dandelions,for example, usually indicates

acid and infertile soils.

Added sweetenerThe best pH range for most plants

is slightly acid at pH 5.5 to 6.5.

Below this, you will need to add

a liming agent or soil ‘sweetener’

unless you are growing acid-

loving plants. The common liming

agents are lime or dolomite.

Dolomite is calcium magnesium

carbonate which, like limestone,

raises soil pH but also adds

magnesium, an element often

lacking in Australian soils.

Plant selectionInstead of liming your soil, you

could grow acid-tolerant plants.Plants in the Ericaceae family

(azaleas, ericas, rhododendrons)

are known for their preference for

acid soils, as are camellias, citrus,

gardenias, geraniums, magnolias

and members of the Protea family.

Lime these only if the pH is very

severely acidic. Most Australian

native plants are adapted to acidsoil and in some cases are tolerant

of extreme acidity. Only a few

plants from coastal sand dunes

and from the arid inland prefer

alkaline soils.

See also Soil analysis

AGAPANTHUS

Divide clumps to line the drivewayAgapanthus are striking when

planted to line a driveway or a

fence. A quick way to increase

your supply of agapanthus is to

dig up a clump in late winter and

divide it into separate plants

using a sharp spade.

Getting agapanthus to flowerAgapanthus that refuse to flower

are usually growing in too much

shade. Move the clump to a spot in

full sun or enjoy the green leaves.

Variety of flower colourGood varieties to grow include

‘Purple Cloud’ (tall, with large

heads of intensely purple-blue

flowers), ‘Strawberry Ice’ (medium

height with pure white heads of

flowers blushed strawberry pink),

AFRICANVIOLETSAfrican violets make idealindoor plants. They flowerover a long period, especiallyin spring and summer, withblooms of white, mauve, pink,purple or blue, and ruffledand double petals.

The right conditionsPlace pots in a warm room with

a minimum temperature of 18°C,

where they get bright but indirect

sunlight. To create the humid

conditions that these plants like,

stand the pots on dampened

pebbles. Fertilise from spring to

later summer with a liquid feed

at half strength.

How to water African violetsKeep the soil moist but not soggy.

When watering, carefully pour

water into the dish under the pot.

Alternatively, place the pot in a

bowl of shallow water. Try not to

wet the hairy leaves – they are

easily marked.

‘Snowflake’ (miniature to 50

with ice white flowers), ‘Blac

Panther’ (to 90 cm with dark

violet-blue large flowers), an

‘Silver Song’ (white-striped b

flowers). Striking Agapanthu

inapertus has pendulous dee

blue flowers on tall stems.

Variety of flower colourNow there are also many dw

agapanthus available for sm

gardens, pots or along a path

These dwarf agapanthus can

small as 15 cm. Named varie

include ‘Baby Blue’ and ‘Pete

Pan’, which have blue flower

summer. ‘Snowdrop’ has whflowers. There are dwarf form

with variegated leaves, such

‘Tinkerbell’, which grows to

around 30 cm and has blue fl

that stand around 50 cm abo

the leaves.

take leaf cuttings of African violets

1 African violets root easily

from leaf cuttings. Carefully

pull or cut off a leaf stalk and

shorten it to about 2–4 cm long.

2 Bury each leaf stalk in

propagating mix in a 13 c

pot. Cover the pot with a clea

plastic bag or stand it in a cl

and lightly shaded propagato

New plants will soon form. Y

can also root African violets

standing the leaves, with sta

in a jar of water.



J

6

J JACARANDAS | JASMINES JASMINES

JASMINESJasmines are renowned fortheir superb scent and theirbeautiful flowers. They varygreatly in their habit, sizeand perfume. Most originatefrom tropical and subtropicalareas and only some of themare f rost-hardy.

Coping with the coldCarolina jasmine (Gelsemium

sempervirens) This frost-hardy

evergreen twining climber from

the southern United States is neat

and not too vigorous. It has glossy

green foliage and small trumpet-

shaped, scented yellow flowers in

spring and autumn.

Common jasmine ( Jasminum

officinale) This easily cultivated

semi-evergreen climber from

China is frost-hardy. Its evening-

scented white flowers bloom from

summer to early autumn, set off

by glossy foliage.

Pink jasmine ( J. polyanthum)

The tall, twining, frost-hardy

pink jasmine from China is veryvigorous and can become invasive.

The pink buds open to almost

overpoweringly perfumed white

flowers in spring and summer.

Star jasmine (Trachelospermum

jasminoides) A tough, versatile,

twining evergreen climber from

China, it is moderately frost-

hardy and makes an effective

groundcover. Dark green foliage

sets off the sweetly scented white

flowers over a long period in late

spring and early summer.

Winter jasmine ( J. nudiflorum)

The most cold-tolerant of all

jasmines, best suited to cool to

cold climates, winter jasmine is

a deciduous, rambling climber.

Masses of vivid yellow flowers

appear in winter and early spring.

Prefers warmthAngel wing jasmine ( J. nitidum)

The delicately star-shaped white

flowers are scented and about

2 cm across. This jasmine grows

JACARANDAS

A tree of variable sizePerhaps the most widely admired

of all tropical trees, Jacaranda

mimosifolia also grows well inwarm to temperate areas, being

able to withstand an occasional

light frost once it is established.

However, it does not grow nearly

as large in those areas as it does

in the subtropics, and before

planting you should look at

mature trees in your area to get

an idea of what size to expect.

Although deciduous, jacarandas

hold their leaves through winter,

only dropping them in spring.

A white jacarandaWhile blue jacarandas are more

admired and commonly seen, a

beautiful white variety, ‘Alba’, is

now available. It does not grow

quite as tall as blue jacarandas.

Bonus flowersAlthough the main flowers are

borne in late spring and early

summer, jacarandas will often

also bear flowers in autumn. It

depends on the particular season

and the individual tree. When the

flowers fall, they cover the ground

beneath the tree in a spectacular

coloured carpet. If you can, site

your tree in the middle of l awn

and enjoy the carpet without the

hazard of wet, slippery flowers ona path or pavers.

Give the tree its headA young jacaranda grows very

fast and upright for the first

3–4 years. Cutting it back during

this time to force branching can

cripple it. Leave it alone and it

will develop a shapely crown in

its own good time. Never lop an

established tree to try to control

its size. It will grow back strongly

but it will be years before it

flowers again.

Easy to growJacarandas are easily propagated

from seed, and in climates where

the trees flourish you will need to

be vigilant about self-sown seedsunless you want a jacaranda

forest. If you do wish to keep the

seedlings, transplant them to the

desired position when they are

quite young as large seedlings are

more difficult to establish.

best in the subtropics, flowering

from late spring through summer.

Lemon-scented jasmine

( J. azoricum) This evergreen

climber has highly scented white

flowers, which appear in summer,

opening from deep pink buds.

Here is a jasmine that is easy to

control and will grow as a shrub

when pruned.

Shrubby jasminesYellow or primrose jasmine

( J. mesnyi) is a tall shrub with

arching branches. It makes a good

informal hedge, and tolerates hot

and dry conditions. The Arabian

jasmine ( J. sambac ) is a small

shrub or vine with superbly

fragrant white flowers in spring

and summer. It thrives in a warm

to tropical climate. There are

lovely double-flowered forms.

Pink jasmine

Star jasm

Carolina jasmine

JAPANESEWINDFLOWERS see page 142



Button mu

The commo

Agaricus b

Chestnut mushroom and

Swiss brown mushroom

The brown-capped

Agaricus bisporus.

Enok

The

culti

Flam

velu

Oyster mushroom

This mushroom

belongs to the

Pleurotus genus.Shiitake mushroom

The very popular Asian mushroom,

also listed as Lentinus edodes.

M

8

M MURRAYAS | MUSHROOMSMULCH | MURRAYAS

MULCHA layer of mulch spread over your garden bed s will conserve soilmoisture and reduce your garden’s water needs. And because itexcludes light, mulch will also suppress the growth of weeds.

MURRAYAS

Sweetly scentedSome common names of Murraya

paniculata, such as mock orange

or orange jessamine, reflect the

perfume of this evergreen shrub

with its overwhelmingly fragrant

cream flowers. It is ideal if you

need a fast-growing front hedge,

or to screen a fence or divide up

garden areas.

Warm and frost-freeMurrayas flourish in warm,

frost-free climates. They do best

in fertile, well-drained soil, so

when planting, dig in plenty of

compost or well-rotted manure.

They usually reach around 2–3 m

tall, and have small, dark, glossy

MUSHROOMCOMPOST

Where does it come from?Commercially grown mushrooms

are cultivated on a compost made

up mainly of horse manure.

When the mushrooms have been

harvested, the compost is sold in

bulk by the cubic metre or, more

expensively, in prepacked bags

at garden centres and nurseries.

Mulch or manureMushroom compost is a good

garden mulch or manure, as it

contains both humus and plantfoods. However, it can be overly

alkaline and cause burning or

chlorosis. Always check the pH

before using it in your garden – it

should not exceed 8 when applied

to most soils. Sometimes, it can be

as high as 11.0.

MUSHROOMS

Fungi kitsMushroom enthusiasts can raise

their favourite fungi at home. Kits

are available that will provide

regular crops for 8–12 weeks. A

kit consists of mushroom spawn,

some coarse compost, a growing

container and a bag of soil-like

material called ‘casing’, which is a

mixture of peat and chalk or peat

and lime. Mix the spawn with the

compost; add the casing 2 weeks

later and lightly water during the

final stages of growth. The first

crop should be ready 8–9 weeks

after the spawn and compost are

mixed, provided the temperature

does not drop below 16°C.

Gourmet varietiesOyster, shiitake, chicken-of-the-

woods and other more unusual

mushrooms can be raised on logs,

which can be bought already

inoculated with the fungus as kits

from specialist suppliers. All you

have to do is place them in a

shady spot in the garden and wait

for mushrooms to start sprouting.Also check on the internet to see

the latest varieties on offer.

Natural or artificialLoose organic materials, such as

compost, straw or woodchips, are

easy to apply and often improve

the soil; inorganic materials such

as pebbles and gravel last well

and create a dry environment.

There are also living mulches and

sheet mulches. Choose a mulch

to suit your garden based on the

mulch’s function and appearance.

Living mulchGroundcovers form a living mulch

of plants that spread out, shade

their own root zones and prevent

weeds from germinating. Plant

them at the closest recommended

spacing to give quick coverage.

Sheet mulchesSheet mulches smother perennial

weeds and stop windborne weed

seeds. You can use old carpet or

newspapers (only pages without

coloured ink), or buy mulch mat

or weed mat in rolls or pre-cut

squares. Cover a new bed with

use Mulch mat

1 Thoroughly prepare the soil

in a new garden bed and rake

it level. Add any slow-release

fertiliser and also install driplineirrigation if using.

2 Spread out the mulch mat

over the soil. Secure it well by

burying the edges or anchoring

them with pins or stones.

3 Cut a cross in the mat and

peel back the flaps. Plant

the plant through the hole,

then tuck the flaps back so

weeds can’t grow

in the gaps.

4 When you’ve

finished planting,

cover the mat with a layer

of bark chips or gravel.

Proper pickingSnap off mushrooms at the b

or twist them free of the soil

not take the heads alone. Als

to minimise rot, do not cut th

stems. Remove any stumps,

pieces of stem and other deb

minimise the growth of mou

which may stop new mushro

forming. To encourage furth

cropping, it is a good idea to

any holes in the compost.

For best flavourMushrooms taste best if coo

and eaten immediately after

are picked. They will store fo

few days in a paper bag in th

refrigerator, but they should

used as soon as possible.

the sheet mulch before planting,then cover it with a thin layer of

gravel or bark chips.

First things firstThe time to apply mulch is when

the soil is moist but not cold.

Fertilise your garden beforehand,

and if you are installing dripline

irrigation, lay the dripline first,

too. When working with organic

mulches, damp down the material

and always wear gloves and a

dust mask to protect against

airborne Legionella bacteria.

Applying mulchThe mulch should be deep enough

to exclude light completely from

the soil surface. Loose mulch

should be 5 cm thick. It can be

laid straight onto the soil or on

top of overlapping thicknesses

of wet newspaper or mulch mat.

Never pile mulch up around plant

stems or tree trunks, as the high

humidity this creates can cause

fungal diseases.

green leaves right to the ground.

But they can be kept clipped to

any size with occasional pruning

during the growing season, or

even clipped into topiary shapes.

Take no chancesBe wary of folklore tests for edib

fungi such as ‘If the cap peels, yo

eat it’. Many such tales have prov

be wrong – sometimes fatally so

be safe, you should never eat an

fungus unless it has been positividentified as edible.

identify Mushrooms



P

10

P PATIOSPATHS

make space on a PatJust a few square metres of

are enough to create a seatin

adjacent to a house. Rememb

leave enough space for peopl

back their chairs from the ta

A patio that acts as an enter

area adjacent to the house sh

space for tables and chairs a

umbrella without blocking a

the house to the garden.

Providing shadeFrom midspring to midautumn,

overhead shade is essential for

comfort and safety. Solid shade

is cast by walls, fences or densely

foliaged trees. Lattice screens

provide lighter, dappled shade. A

pergola with deciduous climbers

provides all-day dappled shade in

summer, while a plant-clad arch

creates a pleasant arbour.

Often it is best to experiment with

temporary shade before investing

in a more permanent screen. For

example, an umbrella can be moved

about the patio and put away when

not needed. You may decide to have

an awning erected. Awnings can

be wound out by hand or electric

motor, and provide protection from

light rain, too. A canvas gazebo

protects from sun and light rain but

is time-consuming to erect.

PATHS

Path stylePaths provide lines of movement

around the garden. Straight paths

are business-like, being direct

and formal in appearance. Curved

or winding paths will give a more

relaxed, informal feel, gently

leading you through the garden.

Planning a pathA main path should be at least

1.2 m wide, while minor paths

should be at least 60 cm wide.

The slope of a path and drainage

should be taken into account

when deciding on materials. Any

type of material can be used on

level ground, but where there is

an incline of more than 6 per cent,

a solid surface is best.

Decide whether you want a porous

path (such as gravel) or a solid

paved one, and whether it shouldhave a brick or other decorative

edging. If you need to deal with

a slope, a curved path could wind

up the slope, but a straight path

will need steps or a ramp.

See also Paving

PATIOS

Choosing the siteBefore beginning work on a new

patio, consider what aspect it

will have. If the garden is north-

facing, you can build as close to

the house as you like because it

won’t cast shadow on the patio. If

the aspect is southerly, it may be

better to site the patio far enoughfrom the house to prevent its

shadow falling across the patio.

Levelling upIf the patio will adjoin the house,

the level of the paving must be at

least 15 cm below the damp

course. If the site slopes sharply

away from the house you may

need to build a low retaining wall

to contain the soil and hardcore

needed to raise the patio’s outer

edge. If it slopes towards the

house, you will need to level the

ground and build a retaining wall

to hold back the soil.

Rain and the patioGood drainage is vital. When

laying the patio, allow for a fallaway from the house of about

2.5 cm in every 1.5 m. If the fall is

towards the house and levelling

the site is impossible, you must

construct a drainage channel

between the edge of the patio and

the house wall. This will take rain

run-off into an existing drain or a

specially constructed soakaway.

Weed preventionFor a timber deck, check that the

timber has been pressure-treated.

Before laying the deck, cover the

area with mulch mat or heavy-

duty plastic sheeting, perforatedto allow water to drain away. This

will prevent weeds from growing

up through the slats.

On paved patios, joints between

the pavers are usually filled with

mortar, which obstructs weeds.

make a simple gravel PathFor a simple permanent path that is easy

to keep tidy, install edging boards

and lay gravel over mulch mat.Stepping stones could be

bedded into the gravel for

variety and to give a

firmer feel underfoot.

Many plants will self-

seed in the gravel

for a softer, more

natural effect.

1 Use pegs and string

to mark the path’s

line. Excavate the area

to a depth of 80 mm.

2 Construct the sides

with pressure-treated

75 mm wide timber

planks. Brace this frame-

work with 200 mm pegs

hammered in and nailed

to planks at both ends.

3 If you do not want

a sharp turn, create

gentler curves by cutting

the edging planks into

shorter lengths.

4

Staple or tack mulch

mat to the inside of

the edging planks.

5 Cover the mulch mat

with no more than

50 mm of gravel – or use

bark chips. Level and

tidy with a plastic rake.

But if the gaps are filled only

sand, you may need to treat t

occasionally with a herbicid

Sunny patio plantsGrow drought-tolerant plant

in large containers to minim

watering. Try African daisie

agapanthus, lavender, rosem

and succulents. On a small puse only a few large pots and

make the most of hanging ba

and window boxes.



12 Hybrid tea rose ‘Double Delight’

Floribunda rose ‘ Honey Perfume’ Gallica rose ‘ Charles de Mills’

Wild rose

RosesRoses have been cherished by gardeners for

centuries, grown in rose beds, mixed with annuals,

bulbs or low-growing perennials, trained over arbours or

showcased as single specimens. There are a number of different types.

Floribunda rosesFloribunda, or cluster-flowered, rose bushes will give

continuous colour throughout summer and autumn.

They produce multiple blooms on each stem, which

are carried all over the bush.

✷‘Bonica’ ✷ ‘China Doll’ ✷ ‘Friesia’ ✷ ‘Iceberg’ ✷ ‘La Sevillana’

✷ ‘Pink Parfait’ ✷ ‘Sexy Rexy’ ✷ ‘Regensberg’

Miniature and

groundcover rosesMiniature roses have small blooms and foliage,

usually borne on small bushes less than 60 cm high.

Groundcover roses have a low, dense growth habit,

with spreading rather than upright branches. They

often grow to 1 m high by 1.5 m wide.

Miniature ‘Cricket’ ✷ ‘Dresden Doll’ ✷ ‘Magic Carousel’

✷ ‘Miss Daisy’ ✷ ‘Pride ’n’ Joy’ ✷ ‘Starina’

Groundcovers ‘Gold Magic Carpet’ ✷ ‘Hot Chilli’

✷ ‘Meidiland’ ✷ ‘Nozomi’ ✷ ‘Ralph’s Creeper’

✷ ‘Sea Foam’ ✷ ‘White Flower Carpet’

Hybrid tea roses The blooms of hybrid tea, or large-flowered, roses

have the classic rose shape, with one large flower

borne at the top of a long, straight stem that is ideal

for picking. They flower in distinct flushes from earlysummer to autumn.

✷ ‘Aotearoa’✷ ‘Blue Moon’ ✷ ‘Diamond Jubilee’

✷ ‘Double Delight’ ✷ ‘Fragrant Cloud’ ✷ ‘Ingrid Bergman’

✷ ‘Just Joey’ ✷ ‘Maria Callas’ ✷ ‘Midas Touch’ ✷ ‘Mister Lincoln’

✷ ‘Papa Meilland’ ✷ ‘Pascali’ ✷ ‘Princesse de Monaco’

Climbing and rambling roses These roses add an extra dimension to the garden.

Climbers can be grown on a wall, fence or screen,

while supple-stemmed ramblers can be trained over

arbours and pergolas.

Climbers ‘Albertine’ ✷ ‘Altissimo’✷ ‘Gold Bunny’

✷ ‘Golden Showers’ ✷ ‘Handel’ ✷ ‘Lamarque’

✷ ‘Lorraine Lee’ ✷ ‘Pierre de Ronsard’ ✷ ‘Titian’

Ramblers ‘Paul’s Scarlet’ ✷ Rosa banksiae ‘Lutea’

✷ ‘Seagull’ ✷ ‘Veilchenblau’

Old-fashioned rosesHeritage Roses were bred before 1867, while Old

World Roses look similar but were bred after that

date. These old-fashioned roses have blooms of

exquisite shape with a delightful scent. They include

the Gallica, Damask, Moss, Alba, China, Tea, Bourbon

and Hybrid Musk roses.

✷ ‘Charles de Mills’ ✷ ‘Felicia’ ✷ ‘Heritage’ ✷ ‘La Reine Victoria’

✷ ‘Lady Hillingdon’ ✷ ‘Mutabilis’✷ ‘Quatre Saisons’ ✷ ‘Tuscany’

Wild or species roses These are roses as found in the wild. Their flowers

may not be big or showy but they are beautiful

because of their simplicity. Most wild roses are

single-flowering. They often have added features,

such as interesting foliage or colourful rose hips.

✷R. canina ✷R. chinensis ✷R. moyesii ✷R. rugosa and cvs



14

WW WATER TANKSWATER TANKS

WATER TANKS

Making a choiceInstalling a rainwater tank is a

big project, both financially and

logistically. Take some time to

research the different sizes and

styles available, to ensure that

you end up with the tank that has

the capacity you need and the look

you want at the price you prefer.Also make sure that your roof and

gutters are in the right condition

for rainwater collection.

The right sizeTanks range in size from a

capacity of about 300 litres up to

50,000 litres or more. When you’re

deciding what size tank you need,

you must consider the size of your

catchment area (that is, the area

of your roof surface), the amount

of rainfall in your area and the

sort of applications for which the

stored water is intended.

If you’re only using the tank for

outdoor applications, such as

watering the garden and washing

the car, it would use a little less

than 100,000 litres of water a

year. In most cases, this need can

be met by a tank with a capacity

of between 2000 and 4000 litres.

Above-ground tanksA tank elevated above ground has

the following considerations:

✸ It is easy to notice a crack or

a leak and deal with it.

✸ The elevated position produces

better water pressure.

✸ It is easier to drain the tank

when required, for example forthe biannual maintenance.

✸ It is usually less expensive.

✸ It takes up land space.

✸ It is exposed to UV radiation,

wind and damage from bushfires.

Below-ground tanksWith a tank underground or under

the house, consider the following:

✸ It doesn’t intrude on land space.

✸ A pump is required to access

the stored water.

✸ It is more difficult to detect

leaks or water contamination and

to address any problems.

✸ Maintenance can be more

labour-intensive, and expensive.

The right typeWhen reviewing the options,

think about the logistics and cost

of installation as well as what you

intend to use the rainwater for.

set up a Water harvesting systemMost gardeners configure their rainwater-harvesting

system in one of three ways.

Equipping the systemA tank must be fitted with devices that

will keep the collected rainwater clean

and ensure that you can access it as

you need it. These devices include:

✸ Rain heads

✸ Gutter screens and guards

✸ First-flush water diverter

✸ Taps, also known as draw-off points

✸ An overflow outlet

✸ Mains top-up system (only required

if the collected tank water will be used

inside the house)

✸ Backflow prevention device

✸ Pipes for a wet or a dry system

(A wet system has its pipes below the

tank, so the pipes are permanently full

of water – they do not dry out. A drysystem’s pipes are above the tank and

remain dry until it rains, when they

channel the rainwater to the tank then

dry out again.)

✸ Pump for water pressure.

Polyethylene tanksLightweight polyethylene, or

‘poly’, tanks are UV-resistant and

immune to rust. They come in

corrugated cylindrical forms that

mimic the shape of the classic

metal tank, but also in a variety

of shapes that suit different

applications. Some polyethylene

tanks can be installed under the

ground. These tough tanks willeasily withstand bumps and

knocks, but heat from bushfires

will damage them irreparably.

Steel tanksThe classic Australian rainwater

tank – a cylinder of corrugated

steel – is still in production and

certainly has enduring popularity.

There are colour-coated and

galvanised-finish tanks available

that are lined internally with a

high-grade plastic surface. This

improves water quality and may

increase the life of the tank. Metal

tanks must be installed above

ground on a concrete platform

or on a suitable metal stand.

Concrete tanksConcrete tanks generally sit

directly on the ground or they are

installed underground. Those that

are well designed and constructed

can last a lifetime and should be

considered in rural or semi-rural

areas because they will not meltor buckle in bushfires. In urban

areas, underground concrete

tanks built in new residences can

be topped with load-bearing lids

and installed under driveways,

garages or other concrete slabs.

However, there can be issues with

access for general maintenance or

for repairing cracks or leaks.

BladdersSeveral manufacturers produce

rainwater bladders, pioneered in

Australia. They store water in

large sacks of flexible, puncture-

resistant PVC tucked away in the

sub-floor area of the house. The

bladders sit inside protective steel

frames and are installed below

the floorboards or under the deckof the house. They are particularly

suited to small properties. They

come in a range of sizes and can

be pieced together in a modular

system to fit perfectly between

the piers of a sub-floor area.

Roof and gutterThe size of your roof affects the

volume of water your tank will

catch; the type of roof will affect

water quality. Ask the tank

supplier about the suitability

of your roofing material and the

tank’s warranty beforehand.

Gutters form the first collection

point from the roof and they must

have the correct angle of fall to

the catchment outlets. Keep the

roof and gutters as clean aspossible, and fit mesh screens

to the gutters to divert leaf and

other debris away from the roof.

Also fix gutter outlets to the

underside of gutters so that the

flow of water is not obstructed.

Pump connecte

irrigation system

pump is necessar

provide the press

required for a lar

complex irrigatio

system or a syste

connected to spr

or sprinkler head

The rainwater ta

can be above gro

or below ground.

Tap with basic

irrigation This

relatively simple

configuration for

irrigation has a

dedicated above-

ground tank with

tap, connected to

soaker hose or dr

system. It operat

by gravity.

Basic tank This

the simplest type

installation, with

tank set on a stan

and a tap outlet.

stored water canaccessed for gard

as well as for fill

buckets for wash

cars and pets or f

children’s play.Slimlinesteel tank

Bladder tank



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First published 2013

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