If you are currently experiencing water restrictions then your garden is probably looking a bit thirsty. In some places with severe restrictions it's probably dead. We all love a lush green garden but unfortunately gardens are the biggest culprit when it comes to water consumption and can use over half of the water you use every year. Here's how you can green garden all year without contributing to the water shortage, and without replacing all your plants with drought tolerant plants.

Using rainwater tanks is the perfect way for you to create the garden of your dreams and keep it green all year round. To build a system that is suitable for your garden you need to calculate a) how much water you need and b) how much water you get. Local rainfall tables are available from the local weather website. Slimline tanks are great for small blocks because you put them out of the way and grow plants around them to hide them. Some tanks can even be used as wall panels or fencing. If you can't afford a big tank, use a modular tank so you can start with one and join on another one next year. Slimline tanks are typically round or elliptical, and can look a bit unsightly in your backyard however some new tanks are rectangular and flat so that fit together and look just like a normal wall or fence

Using rainwater for your gardens is also a great idea because you don't have to do anything to the water before you use it for your plants and vegetables. In fact, some research shows the water even healthier than watering them out of your own water supply, depending on where your local water comes from. Water from the tap is treated with chemicals to make sure there is no harmful bacteria, strange colours or smells. Pipes that deliver the mains water can be over 50 years old and fill of rust, dirt, tree roots and other nasty pollutants! Compare that to rainwater which falls directly from the sky.

To get the water from the tank to your garden there is a few options. This can be as simple as watering can or hose for small blocks, or with an integrated set up with pumps and controllers which is better for larger gardens. If you are concerned with small particles getting caught in the sprinklers or you also intend on using the water in your home then you might consider a first- flush filter or an inline filter to take out any dirt or sediment. Be sure that there is also a cover that will keep out bugs and animals so the water does not become a breeding ground for mosquitoes and bacteria.

Rainwater tanks will make big difference to your garden and water use and will cost you a lot less than you think. Water is free from the sky so why pay for it!


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David is a designer for Superwall Systems and helped develop the worlds first structural water tank. The Supertank is a rectangular, slimline water tanks for Melbourne that can also be used as a building material