How I transformed my garden into a waterwise masterpiece

For many people, gardening can tend to be an overwhelming and costly task. Knowing what works in your space isn’t always straight-forward, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. 

We spoke to Perth local and recently turned garden enthusiast, Angela Rasmussen about how she transformed her tired-looking garden into a native oasis.

Her tips and tricks are proof that you don’t have to be a garden guru to create a waterwise masterpiece. 

Transforming your garden into a waterwise masterpiece can be easier than you think! 

When I first moved into my property, the backyard featured a large lawn area, sand and a few grass trees – a nightmare for someone like me who had no idea about soil health, fertilising, hydrophobia or how to have a thriving garden in our unique climate. Unfortunately, this resulted in my garden being the only brown and crispy patch in the street, so I decided to take action! 

Backyard blitz

A lot of people have gardens they can work with and add to. However, I didn’t have much in my backyard, which is why I decided to start from scratch. I knew I wanted a tree or two as well as some shrubs in my backyard, so I did what any green thumb novice would do and dug out all my lawn. Digging up small patches of lawn and extending gardening beds is a great place to start, you’ll be surprised at how much life you can bring to a small space! 

I kept the grass trees and planted a few small shrubs, which to my surprise grew at a rapid rate over the summer. I started to enjoy being outside, seeing everything grow and take shape - so much so that I was turning down my plans on a Saturday night because I had gardening to do the next day. 

The backyard soon grew into a native oasis. Plants were flowering in their first season, while birds, frogs, bees and butterflies were finding a place to call home. 

Once I had the backyard under control, I thought it was probably time to do something about the front yard. 

Angela's new garden oasis.

A blank canvas

When it came to the front yard, there weren't any existing mature trees or native plants, which meant I had a blank canvas to work with. So I decided to hire a bobcat and remove the whole front lawn. 

When it came to selecting plants, I did my research. It was important I found plants that were suited to my local climate and soils. I went for a range of shrubs, small trees, mallees, ground covers, sedges and wildflowers and added in nesting grounds, ponds and birdbaths for the wildlife to use. I avoided using insecticides, pesticides and herbicides, rewilding my garden and encouraging life back into it. 

Angela had a blank canvas to work from, making the process easier.

The result was a colourful waterwise garden.  

Low maintenance, high reward

This is now my second summer with my reworked front yard and it’s really starting to flourish. I now have no need to set up a retic system and instead top up the water dishes  (bird baths and ponds) for the wildlife when needed. 

As for the lawn in my backyard, it’s far more manageable to maintain now that I have a quarter of the amount to look after. I’ve learnt that applying regular soil wetting agent in the early summer breaks the hydrophobic (water repellent) layer which helps the water penetrate into the ground better and not pool on top. This combined with less frequent but deeper watering promotes healthy deep root growth rather than a shallow root system which can burn in the sun.

Angela is reaping the rewards of her new waterwise garden, welcoming insects big and small. 

Angela's top tips

• Tubestock is magical! They save you money, suffer less transplant shock and establish themselves a healthy root system which encourages growth.
• Adding a couple of handfuls of a clay/compost mix when planting helps retain a bit of moisture – especially during your plants’ first summer. Water this in for about 20 seconds per plant.
• Don’t be afraid to experiment. You’ll be surprised at how much you can learn from trial and error.
• Know and note the sun pattern to your block. This will help you map out your garden.
• Remember to take time to sit back and enjoy your hard work. 

To see more of Angela’s waterwise garden transformation, visit her Instagram page @splendour.inthe.garden.

If you’re looking for more inspiration for transforming your garden, check out our garden designs for Perth/South West, the Mid West and North West.