Grey Water includes all the waste water from the house with the exception of toilet waste. (Black Water)
It can includes water from; Washing Machine, Dishwasher, Sink, Wash Basin, and Shower.
A basic grey water reuse scheme sending washing machine water using a two way diverter valve to a perforated hose will cost less than $100. A top-of-the-range system, taking all the grey water, with treatment and pumps can cost $2-4,000.
Advantages
It’s available all year round whether it rains or not.
A basic system is inexpensive.
Disadvantages
You are not supposed to use grey water on root crop plants in your veggie plots because of bacterial contamination.
You shouldn’t store grey water as it is likely to go Septic and smell.
A lot of grey water contains too many nutrients for native plants.
Many common domestic soaps are high in sodium which can cause soil problems with long term use.
Summary
Because of its disadvantages I really regard grey water as a last resort rather than a main garden watering system.
If you have a veggie plot, or a lawn, one of the more basic systems will help you in times of drought, so I wouldn’t go for one of the top of the range systems.
If you are intending to use grey water make sure you use an eco friendly laundry liquid such as Earth Choice.
A better alternative is to make sure you get the right size of rainwater tank so follow this link: Rainwater Tank Size
Have you ever wondered what this is in your garden?
Perhaps you have seen ‘ORG’ on a drawing.
Well the answer is it’s called an Overflow Relief Gully. It needs to between the house and the connection to the main sewer.
An ORG is a vital part of protecting your house against Sewage blockages in the main causing an overflow inside your house.
The grate is set 150mm below the level of the lowest waste water fitting in your house. Normally the shower drain or Floor Drain. ( In cases where the 150mm minimum height cannot be achieved, a reflux valve should be installed in addition to the ORG)
In the event of a sewer blockage the sewage can flow out of the ORG. Not very nice!…….. but much better than flowing out across your floor.
To make sure it works when you need it:
DON’T landscape over it!
DON’T put a plant pot …… or anything else, on top of it!
Guest post by David Limburg of Online Garden Design
With most new houses, the garden is often the last aspect of the new build that is considered. Often the soil is left in a terrible state by the construction process. Below we outline how to improve your soil after the builders have gone.
What’s Needed
Improving the quality of the soil is necessary for healthy plant growth. Making certain that the soil is of good quality will provide the necessary nutrient for roots to grow which depend on the soil quality.
Soil of very good quality is often denoted as loam; it contains sandy and clay partials in such case, the soil has enough porosity and drainage such that it can hold fertility, nutrients, and moisture in abundance.
Improving The Structure
A nice friable loamy soil is achieved through two main functions:
Good, thorough aeration of the compacted soil.
Addition of LOADS of organic matter such as compost.
Organic matter will not only improve the soil structure, but it will also enable the soil to retain more moisture and nutrients and provide an excellent medium for plants roots to thrive.
Testing The Soil Quality
Testing the soil is to determine the pH level and nutrient content, factors essential for good quality soil. Too much or too little nutrient, such as phosphorous or potassium, is detrimental to plants. The correct quantity is necessary for best plant growth.
The pH offers an indication of the concentration of nutrient in the soil and has values from 1 (most acid) to 14 (most alkaline).
Testing the soil to determine whether it is perfect for the type of plants that you want to be growing in your garden is very simple by the use of test strips.
Generally vegetables and ornamental prefer soil that is little acidic with a pH of 6 or 7.
Soil that does not have the correct pH prevents plants from acquiring the necessary nutrient, even if they are present in the soil in high amount. Low pH may also increase the solubility of certain minerals to toxic levels like magnesium.
Online Garden Design custom made unique landscape designs – Landscape design packages and do it yourself landscape guides. Landscape designs/garden plans for new house builds. Online Garden Designs Australia wide including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, Darwin, Hobart
The sight of this Norfolk pine towering over this single storey house caused me to stop the car!
And the tree is only half grown.
It breaks RULE 2 of suburban tree selection – “Don’t get a tree that grows to more than 50% taller than your house.”
(Rule 1 is “Read the label”)
Getting Rid of Unsuitable Trees
Removing dead and unsuitable trees and stumps safeguards your landscape so that you can replant and redesign the space as you please.
To ensure you are working with a healthy landscape, ensure you have inspected the area and identified all trees or stumps that may need to be removed.
Tree and Stump removal requires a high level of expertise and is not recommended as do it yourself.
Enlisting a professional removal service like Daryl’s Tree Care and Surgery is essential to identify potential hazards in your garden and to safely undertake the removal process without disturbing the rest of your landscape.”
Here are some pictures of the last garden we developed that has neither. We planted the garden near the house with clumps of native grasses, succulents and flaxes along a dry stream bed.
Further back, along the fence we used native shrubs and some palms.
When we plant I water the plant in and then water about a week later,. After that its on its own……if it dies it gets replaced with something hardier.
In case you think this is in a tropical area you would be wrong.
It’s in Werribee the driest Melbourne Suburb (40% less rain than than eastern suburbs).
The garden was planted in 2006 and the photos were taken in 2010 after 4 years of Victorian drought.
Usually builders over order bricks. This is to ensure that all the bricks come from the same batch and there is no problem colour matching. (Each batch of bricks manufactured should be consistent within the batch, but will vary from batch to batch).
Some of the extra bricks may be used by the brickies cutting bricks, but there is usually lots of intact bricks left over that you could use for:
Path edging;
Brick planter boxes; or
Building a barby.
So whats the situation when it comes to getting those bricks?……………
Well for most house contracts you are paying for the completed walls not the actual bricks so the bricks are really owned by the builder.
In practice if there are complete packs/pallets of bricks the builder will probably want to take them off site for reuse. The reuse is typically for houses or fences that are going to be rendered.
For packs that have been opened its normally ‘too hard’ for the builder to load the bricks by hand so they go off to the tip during the clearance.
If you want the bricks the best thing to do is speak to the Site Supervisor. If you have a good relationship the SS may allow you to collect and stack the bricks somewhere on the site and make sure they are left there for you to use once you have moved in.
There’s nothing like cooking in the great outdoors, whether you are camping in the woods or sitting on your own patio at home.
Two of the hottest trends in new home construction today are island kitchens and backyard patios, so it stands to reason that homeowners are combining the two to create customizable outdoor kitchens.
Rather than messing about with fiddly propane or charcoal grills, you can install all the features of today’s modern kitchens into a cosy deck setting.
Keep it simple with grills built in to your patio, or go high tech with your favourite kitchen gadgets. Either way, you’ll benefit from being able to spend time cooking outdoors with your friends and family, while at the same time adding value to your new home.
Space and Location
As you look at plots of land for sale and start planning the construction of your dream home, think carefully about how much space you will have available for an outdoor kitchen.
In most cases, you’ll need to place your kitchen area close enough to the home to be convenient. Water and electricity supplies must be readily available to install a working outdoor kitchen.
Think about whether you want a concrete base or something more organic, and whether you want your dining area incorporated into the kitchen plans. Your outdoor kitchen may take up the same amount of space as an interior room, depending on your vision.
Style and Design
An island design is the most popular for outdoor kitchens; perhaps because it gives you room to move around a stand-up grill. You can choose a simple rectangular shape with a grill, countertop, bar, and sink.
Kitchen islands, however, could also be L-shaped or even curved to accommodate dining areas and give you added workspace. Another decision to make is whether you prefer to have an open or enclosed outdoor kitchen.
Partially enclosing your kitchen can protect you from foul weather, but it may also lead to the need for added ventilation to prevent smoke from the grill from accumulating in the dining area.
Equipment and Amenities
The primary piece of equipment that you will need for a working outdoor kitchen is a grill, which can be installed in the main kitchen island. These can be outfitted with burners, griddles, and other features.
Sinks can make it easier to prepare food outdoors, while refrigerators keep drinks and perishable items cold without the need to keep walking back into the house. These are the most basic items to install in your outdoor kitchen, but the sky is the limit when it comes to possibilities.
If you enjoy baking, you could install a stand-up mixer and cooling racks. Those who want to use their outdoor kitchen for parties may want to have a full bar installed.
As you draw up plans for your piece of real estate, think about the types of food you will be most likely to prepare in your outdoor kitchen, and how often you plan on entertaining. By customizing this space, you’ll be able to have everything you need for idyllic outdoor entertainment.
Stone Mulches, Dry River Bed, Desert Gardens, they are all variations in having a garden covered with stones rather than having soil or an organic mulch.
It’s popular as a low maintenance finish to your new house garden.
I have used the technique a few times including back in 2006 when I went the Dry River Bed look.
Here is what you should know:
Give the whole area a good dose of weed killer first.
Put weed mat on the soil first, not plastic sheet. You want the soil to ‘breath’ and have water seep through to get to the roots of any plants you put in.
Don’t skimp on the stone, you need a thick layer to make sure you cover all the soil.
Don’t think its ‘No Maintenance’ It will probably be relatively weed free for the first couple of years than dirt and seeds will get blown into the gaps. If you don’t then keep on top of the weeds the whole area can start to look scruffy, like this photo below!
