Help save my new lawn- water restrictions going up

Hey all,

I have recently (a few months ago) as part of my landscaping efforts put in two reasonably small area's of new turf with full automatic irrigation system, front and backyard, both areas about 50m2. My family loves the new grass and we want to keep it alive:o

Now water restrictions here in the ACT are at stage two, which means no sprinkler systems with the exception of evening weekends, other wise you need to hand water.... this is fine, I use the sprinklers once a week and then if needed hand water once during the week.

However when we go to stage 3 (which is looking very likely) you are not to water turf at all. Im all for saving water and understand the importance of it but at the same time wish to save my little green lawn.

What are my options? and costs involved (on a budget)?

1) Rainwater tank with pump to handwater? How big a tank do I need?
2) Rainwater tank hooked up to my auto irrigation system/solenoids? (im not even sure if this is possible)
3) divert the grey water from the shower and bath to my front lawn (downhill), but this doesnt help my backlawn, also concerned about the shampoos, soap and chemicals affecting the lawn?
4) just let my lawn die :(

Sorry bout all the questions, but your thoughts and experiences would help me out :)

Cheers

http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...chmentid=32497

We get 400 gallons a day from the county - goes not very far if you try and keep the garden alive. Houses here not connected to town water used to have a 5,000 gallon tank cast on site - usually with the top forming a patio. This would be connected to a small pump (200 gal/hr) and thus to the header tank in the ceiling. Float switch.... The same pump could be plumbed to a bore (not drinkable!!!:eek:) with gate valves to get the water to the garden taps (not the header tank!!:eek:). Want to water the garden - easy (override the float switch temporarily... change the water source... away it goes).

If you have room on the section/plot/yard for a 5,000 gallon tank, it would be the way to go. You don't need to integrate it with the house water (though if you can't have a shower when you want. maybe it would be useful). Tank cost is $NZ2,000, won't be more, I guess, in ACT and pump isn't a big deal.

I'd look at a waste water system off the showers pumped directly each day. Soap and shampoo are not a problem for lawn and you probably produce more water from the shower than the roof does from rain. We are starting to look at the same thing here, and I am beginning to look at a non storage option pumping to different parts of the garden through an exisiting reticulation system. I am about to find out if soap etc will block the spray jets, someone else may know and save me the research.

John

Surviverability (is that a word?:D ) depends on what the lawn is. Although you might have only rain to water the lawn revival is likely with most grasses.
I use a 3000 ltr rainwater tank, and a watering-can to ensure my lawn does not die completely.
My suggestion is that you recycle grey-water for the front, and install a 3000, or 5000 ltr tank with a pump for the back - as I understand, it you should be entitled to fill the tank fron a commercial supplier. It is not likely to fill from rain soon.
The pump would supply a sprinkler with minimum flow keeping your lawn alive.
Most grass is much tougher that people realize, but good luck, anyway.

soth

Ooops, bye the way, it looks great and I can see why you don't want to lose it.

JDub's Lawn
RIP
1996-1996

:( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :D


Best start to say your goodbyes now.:D
Think of the mowing you will save yourself.

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Originally Posted by Bleedin Thumb

JDub's Lawn
RIP
1996-1996

:( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :D


Best start to say your goodbyes now.:D
Think of the mowing you will save yourself.

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:p We had some good times we did

*cuts to chessy clip of me rolling and frolicking on the grass*

BTW did we lose a decade all of a sudden and no one told me about it? I remembered it rained once or twice back in 1996 ;)

JDub

It looks as though you have access to under your house, if this is the case catching the grey water from your bath, shower and laundry is relatively easy.

I have my own set up and this is all my place ever gets. If it does not live on grey water then it does not live in my garden. I have not turned on a tap to water lawn or garden for over four years and dont intend to start now.

I have 50 mm PVC to divert all the water to a plastic 200lt drum it goes through a filtration set up I made and then pump this out every night and sometimes when we are doing a few loads of washing three times a day.

Pump is relatively cheap if your dont have a great slope on your block, just one of those submersible ones is all I started out with but now I have a Davey Dynajet because we moved to a block with 15 metre lift from front to back and the little pump just would not do it.

Pete

I have been diverting the grey water from my washing onto the grass here and we have lots of green. Just make sure that you get a phosphate free detergent to minimise the effect.

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Originally Posted by masoth

Ooops, bye the way, it looks great and I can see why you don't want to lose it.

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Cheers and thanks for the suggestions, I will look into the raintank option however I fear my hip pocket may not like it :( :( :rolleyes:

I will definately look at DIY installing a gravity fed grey water hose from the bath and shower though, simple and cheap and may at least give one lawn area bit of a chance.

Hopefully they wont increase the restrictions and both areas will be saved from the fate Bleedin has predicted..... wishful thinking maybe :mad: :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by JDub

BTW did we lose a decade all of a sudden and no one told me about it? I remembered it rained once or twice back in 1996 ;)

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Whooa those flash backs come at the worse times!

Of course I know its 2006 I was just testing you.:p

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Originally Posted by Doughboy

I have 50 mm PVC to divert all the water to a plastic 200lt drum it goes through a filtration set up I made and then pump this out every night

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Thanks Pete, :)

Pics? more info on the filtration and pump system you use?

Joel

Joel

SWMBO just gave me this link about washing powders and their phosphorous content. Might be of some help.
http://www.lanfaxlabs.com.au/papers/Na-P-graph-2005.pdf

what sort of grass is it? Couch, buffalo, kikiyu.....?

That kind of defines your options.
Couch and Buffalo can go a lot longer without water, and a once every 2 or 3 weeks watering might do.
With buffalo or couch, bucketing or using a 'slip on' hose to catch the rinse from a big washing day might do ... I put 100 litres on the lawn from one rince cycle with our machine set to maxi load (using a full load of course).

With other 'temperate' grass mixes.... no real easy solution. I'd get a few rolls of couch and divide it up and spot plant out the lawn. Let it spread.

Move to Bega no water restrictions there at all:D

No water restrictions because there is no water to restrict!!!

I am a native of Pambula and the valley is looking very dry.

Pete

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Originally Posted by JDub

Hey all,

I have recently (a few months ago) as part of my landscaping efforts put in two reasonably small area's of new turf with full automatic irrigation system,

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What the hell were you thinking?
Farmers would kill to get any sort of growth in the paddock, and you dont want your lovely green grass to die? :confused:

Al :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:

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Originally Posted by ozwinner

What the hell were you thinking?
Farmers would kill to get any sort of growth in the paddock, and you dont want your lovely green grass to die? :confused:

Al :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:

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Yer I know :rolleyes: SWMBO desperately wanted lawn, I convinced her to have areas half the size she wanted....

I am now seriously considering paving the front area and focus on saving the back lawn for the kids to play on etc...... :( not much cash lying around ATM to pay for 50m2 of good pavers though

Just seems such a waste of time and effort (and $) after I rotary hoed, dug in gypsum etc, installed top notch irrigation ( and dug trenches!), used good top soil, and laid great turf... and only 6 months ago (when there was no restrictions mind you) :mad:

Maybe you could offer your lawn out for agistment, that should keep Al happy.
The lawn looks lush enough for a dairy cow or two, I can see some permiculture thing happening here.
The upside is that once you get the cows you can apply for drought relief.

OK - stating the obvious, but to my understanding, new lawns can be watered in their first year (forobvious reasons). Secondly, you should only water a max of once a week anyway to encourage root growth. If watering to keep it green, then the roots will stay shallow and it'll die in the first week of hot weather. When watering (after its gone some brown in it) water once but very deeply - an all nighter water - this will encourage deeper root growth again.

Any lawn once a year old should easily cope with a drought - it wont look good, but it wont die. As for water, the first thing to do would be to make those downpipes go out onto the lawn - the catchment area of half a roof will turn a 10 minute storm into am equivalent hour of rain for the lawn.

something I did last year was to mulch the lawn from my DC unit. Stuck on heaps of sawdust and woodchip from the jointer. Waw a help as it kept the water in and broke down to help the water get into the lawn.

The other good tip is not to mow it short, let it grow longer to reduce evaporation

Studley

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Originally Posted by pharmaboy2

new lawns can be watered in their first year (forobvious reasons).

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Not here. If you buy the lawn from an instant turf place you can apply for a permit which allows you to water in the new lawn for a couple of month only. If you sow the lawn from seed it doesn't apply.

This is not for your benefit but to stop them having to pay compensation to the turf growers.


Peter.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by pharmaboy2

OK - stating the obvious, but to my understanding, new lawns can be watered in their first year (forobvious reasons). Secondly, you should only water a max of once a week anyway to encourage root growth. If watering to keep it green, then the roots will stay shallow and it'll die in the first week of hot weather. When watering (after its gone some brown in it) water once but very deeply - an all nighter water - this will encourage deeper root growth again.

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As Sturdee says, Unfort the permits only apply for the first month or two after laying the turf, I understand re: deep watering once a week, not cutting short etc etc all of which I am doing :), and it is obviously working because my lawn is very healthy months after laying it in very hot weather......
still if it doesnt rain once a week to give it that once a week 'deep water', it doesnt help much if I cant water it myself ;)

I am going to try and rig up a cheap grey water system for the short term, It may work, it may not, its worth a shot though right?

when I can afford it I may look at larger rain water tanks for my garden irrigation system.

BTW the lawn is tall fescue and kentucky bluegrass (canberra blend) from canturf for those that were asking.
Gotta feel sorry for the turf mobs, they must be hurting.

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tall fescue and kentucky bluegrass

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There's your problem... when it is hot it will need a lot of watering, although the Kentucky bluegrass bounces back pretty well.

Seriously, when it is cooler - scatter some couch or buffalo around the front, it will spread and save the water for the back lawn.

Another thing which may help is to use a good soil wetting agent, this will make sure that the water you do use doesn't just sit near the surface but penetrates deeper thus making sure your lawns roots head downwards as well. Deep rooted plants are more likely to survive the big dry. As for Pharmaboys' "All nighter", I fear that this is a real water waster and by the SA rules, illegal.... I don't know about yours over there.

JDub your trying to save your turf - I'm trying to eliminate mine.

Not because of the drought, I'm as water conscious as anyone - hey I even have my pet aquarium fish on half rations, no I am just really lazy and hate mowing.:o

Infact I hire a mowing guy to come and do ours..he's the most unreliable bloke I've ever met ....been once since last year ....lost one of the kids last week..:eek:

Anyway I recon that lawn is way overrated, gardens are supossed to be for relaxing in, not working in.

So sit back, chill out and watch the grass die.:cool:

.... and be sure to lift the mowing height. Tall grass = deep roots = less watering. You can mow more often to keep the lawn looking OK.

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Originally Posted by Bleedin Thumb

Anyway I recon that lawn is way overrated, gardens are supossed to be for relaxing in, not working in.

So sit back, chill out and watch the grass die.:cool:

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Same here, we have about 6sqM of grass that is ours, and is going as soon as we get around to putting gravel down.

Al :p

Hi JDUB

This is my experience of 4 lawns in canberra. One of the problems I found was the clay and limestone rock that serves as soil in canberra.

The best lawn I ever had in jerrabomberra was done like this;

1. Rotary hoe to at least 4inches. This may include using a kanga jackhammer or similar to break it up first. Rake smooth, dont roll.

2. Go to corkhills and get some of thier vegie mix soil. Lay this to at least the thickness of a brick laid on its side. (4"?)Rake smooth, dont roll.

3. Lay your turf lightly on top, sprinkle more vegie mix to fill the little gaps.

4. Dont walk or let anyone on it for a month.

This is how I did my most successful lawn and once established it looked after itself with only a light watering. The roots were amazing and the soil acts as a sponge.

Normally in canberra most companies that lay turf will at best rotory hoe and normally just spread the thinest layer of crap soil and level it then lay the turf. What happens is the when you water or it rains the water goes straight to the roots and effectively hits concrete soil and runs away.

If you have only just had it laid it may still come back up otherwise you will need to hire a turf cutter and lift it again.

A lot of work but it is the best method for canberra. Sadly, if it has been laid on a little soil then nothing you do will save it. :(

cheers

dazzler

good luck

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Originally Posted by Christopha

Another thing which may help is to use a good soil wetting agent, this will make sure that the water you do use doesn't just sit near the surface but penetrates deeper thus making sure your lawns roots head downwards as well. Deep rooted plants are more likely to survive the big dry. As for Pharmaboys' "All nighter", I fear that this is a real water waster and by the SA rules, illegal.... I don't know about yours over there.

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Unfortunately Christopha, i have no doubt you are correct - The classic example of this is the restriction where you can water by hand held hose, but not use a sprinkler - pretty obviously, using say a sprinkler at night is going to deliver more water to where its needed than a hand held hose, and secondly the hose method will be short in duration and so require more water over the long term. Another example of why better information and teaching people "how" to be waterwise is a better outcome than the beaurocratic solution of rules and laws that are first and foremost easiest to enforce.

fortunately, I happen to live in one of those places that hasnt had water restrictions for a couple fo decades, and probably not coincidently, is also the most recnt catchment area to approve a new dam some weeks ago (Hunter Valley) - maybe thats the reason we dont have a shortage (forward planning?)

Total waste of water. I have never watered my lawn, yet there is no discernable difference between it and the neighbours'. At my previous place, I used to watch the fellow across the street standing out in the rain holding an umbrella while he hosed the garden. Madness!

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Originally Posted by dazzler

A lot of work but it is the best method for canberra. Sadly, if it has been laid on a little soil then nothing you do will save it. :(

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Dazz (and others),
Thanks for the long reply, however I think you need to read the thread ;)

The lawn is fine, its healthy and green, it was prepared well and is going great ATM. :) :rolleyes:

This thread/question was originally asking the best way to water lawn using grey water or tank water since water restrictions will soon not allow use of potable water/sprinklers on lawns.:rolleyes:

Good read for those wanting to know how to prepare and care for a lawn though:p

Going to check out Doughboys simple grey water set up on the weekend :)

JDub,

Set up a cheap diversion system for Shwr, bth and sink as well as laundary. We have just gone to a new bin system in Mus so the ones used are surplus to those that could be found sitting on the footpath.

When water restrictions are finished :( , the diversions will stay. I have buffalo and it loves the soapes etc and we use napisan a couple of times a week with no probs on the lawn. I have been told not to let the grey water near native plants.

hose from the bins is 19mm poly, under $3 for 20m. I give the bathroom bin a rinse out on the lawn every 2weeks as it dose start to smell.

Laundary.

[ATTACH]Attachment 35373[/ATTACH]

Bathroom.

[ATTACH]Attachment 35375[/ATTACH]

Thanks for the pics stringy, :)

Looks very similar to what I am planning..... ;)

How are you distributing the water from the hose (poly) outlet of the drums/bins to the garden/lawn? Gravity or pump?

It's all downhill for me, the hose is poked into the side of the drum no sealant required as the hole is slightly smaller than the poly, about half way up this gives a little more height and enough head to handle the washing machine/bath dump without overflowing.

pumping it up to your front lawn without it costing a bomb is another issue, wife + bucket:D . You could suggest that it is a new expensive exercise regime;) .

Hi JDub

Sorry I should have made my message a little clearer.

If you have not done this or very similar;


1. Rotary hoe to at least 4inches. This may include using a kanga jackhammer or similar to break it up first. Rake smooth, dont roll.

2. Go to corkhills and get some of thier vegie mix soil. Lay this to at least the thickness of a brick laid on its side. (4"?)Rake smooth, dont roll.

Then no matter what you do you will struggle once the lawn gets on a bit.

Consider this advice a sidetrack..:D

Aeration / dethatching is also a really good idea so that the water that you do use doesnt just run off. Once it is aerated top dress with sand so that the holes dont fill up again with soil.

Best of luck with the canberra summer, hope it doesnt get too hot.

we're in the same boat except we're now on level 4 restrictions.

we planted 2 small areas of turf complete with irrigation but as we can only bucket water between certain hours the lawn suffered and died.

but the weeds are flourishing in its place
don't the weeds need water also?:confused:

Watering lawns is a total waste of resources. We let ours brown off over summer. It greens up when the winter rains come. We only hand water our garden which is mostly native plants anyway. Whatever grass we have was here when we bought the place so I have no idee what breed it is. If you insist on watering the lawn at least put a sheep on it that way you can butcher it and get something useful out of something useless (lawn). :D

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Originally Posted by reybec

we're in the same boat except we're now on level 4 restrictions.

we planted 2 small areas of turf complete with irrigation but as we can only bucket water between certain hours the lawn suffered and died.

but the weeds are flourishing in its place
don't the weeds need water also?:confused:

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I can vouch for that. We have all but lost all the lawn and most of my Azaleas etc.

Now it has rained some the lwan grub is tyring to destroy the last roots of lawn I have.

A tank has been ordered but there is a long delay. Using the grey sytem to save some of the plants

Praying for more rain

Timely thread for me. I will be building out at Bungendore next year and have been looking into grey water systems and there is some good reading here. The link below goes to a fact sheet on grey water use from the ACT govt. I am planning on an underground soaker irrigation system for the new place and was interested in how to go about it. More research to do but will be keeping an eye on this thread.

http://www.health.act.gov.au/c/healt...103672000&sid=


Corbs