Understanding more about your soil, careful
selection of plants and the introduction of
water conservation principles to your garden
will mean that the time, money and effort you
put into your garden will result in a healthier,
more interesting one that is appropriate for
our dry climate. Your waterwise garden will
also provide multiple environmental benefits
including:

> The Booklet

Download a copy of the booklet Smart Gardens for a Dry Climate which includes most of the information featured on this website.

• preserving water, which is our most
  precious resource;
• reducing the spread of environmental
  weeds through careful plant selection;
• lowering groundwater levels, thus
  helping to control urban salinity; and
• reducing the amount of pesticides
  used on the garden, through healthier
  soil and plants.

This information on this website is brought to you by Coliban Water, the City of Greater Bendigo and the Department of Primary Industries. It provides a wealth of practical information about waterwise plants and garden design and offers practical advice about how to maintain your garden in a dry area.

Special thanks to Greg Guy of the Horticultural Department at BRIT (Bendigo Regional Institute of TAFE), Anthony Sheean, Mitch Kemp and Roger Barbetti of the City of Greater Bendigo, and Kevin Walsh, author of Waterwise Gardening (2004) for their contribution to this book. We acknowledge the assistance of staff from the Department of Primary Industries and the Department of Sustainability and Environment in the development of the plant list.

We also acknowledge the ongoing support and assistance of Coliban Water, the City of Greater Bendigo,the Department of Primary Industries, and Bendigo Regional Institute of TAFE. Photogaphy by Geof Gerdsen, Richard Gibbs and Norm Stimson. This edition was edited by Kevin Walsh.