Lawn Care and Gardening Tips for Summer in Adelaide

Wednesday, 11 January 2023 by Ri Industries

Now it’s summer, we thought we would round up some lawn care and gardening tips to share with you. The summer growing season is, generally speaking, from December to February. In some Australian climates, it may begin as early as November or end as late as March, so checking your local climate is a great place to start.

Why does ri-industries.com.au write articles about lawn care and gardening? Because we want to help everywhere we can! Our tips can help you reduce water bills and properly care for your septic system.

Let’s talk about conserving water and reducing bills.

A simple step to take is to water early in the morning or overnight. Watering while the temperature is relatively cool allows the lawn and garden the chance to fully absorb the water. Watering late in the day can produce humidity overnight which can lead to the development of fungus.
Water the garden only when it needs to be watered. How will you know? Stick your finger about 4 cm into the soil, and if the soil is not moist, it’s time to water.
Be thorough when watering the garden. Flower beds can do just fine when watered just once or twice per week as long as it’s a good, thorough soak.
Did you know that you can reuse waste water to water the lawn via sub surface irrigation and garden? The surface irrigation disposal area must be dedicated to the sole use of effluent disposal. The area must be landscaped, preferably with salt tolerant shrubs and trees and should be designed to discourage pedestrian and vehicle access. The Ri-Treat Waste Water System works to clean and reuse your waste water from the toilet, kitchen, and laundry to irrigate your garden. This system is a cost-efficient and environmentally friendly way to keep your garden looking green and healthy.
Collect rainwater and use it to water the lawn and garden. Our article How to Water Your Garden With Water Collected in a Rainwater Tank talks about the benefits of using a rainwater tank and how to use it.

Now let’s talk about lawn and garden tips to help protect the septic system.

Be mindful of the septic tank soakaway. A septic tank soakaway is a series of underground, perforated pipes that allow septic tank effluent to soakaway over a large area. A lawn is the best cover for the soakaway. It will help prevent soil erosion while adding beauty to the landscape. When planting, do not dig too deep and be sure to wear gloves to protect against bacteria that may be in the soil.
Know what/what not to plant around a septic tank. First, do not plant anything with deep roots or anything that will be super thirsty. Second, don’t ever plant fruits or vegetables over the septic tank! Third, it’s recommended to plant the right kind of vegetation over the septic tank such as perennials, annuals, and grass. Willow Myrtle trees, Swamp Oak trees, River Red Gum trees, Papyrus shrubs, and Oleander shrubs make particularly good choices to plant near the septic tank. Learn more in our articles Tips for Planting Around a Septic Tank and Tips for Planting Over Septic Drain Fields.

As you can see, we care about providing quality products which benefit the environment as well as you. Our experts will be happy to speak with you and the products that can best suit your needs. Please call us at 08 8444 8100.

Tips for Planting Over Septic Drain Fields

Wednesday, 3 November 2021 by Ri Industries

Will your spring gardening include planting over the septic drain field? If so, Ri-Industries has the following tips for you:

Choose plants with roots that won’t extend past 1m deep. Flowers, hedges, and grasses with more shallow roots will avoid affecting the pipes or the septic tank. They also assist absorption trenches and purify the effluent before it enters the environment.
Grass is an effective option for planting directly above the drain field. Grass over the drain field holds the soil in place and helps the absorption of nutrients, prevents soil erosion and ensures the proper functioning of the septic system.
Climbers, shrubs, and shallow rooted plants work well in the surrounding area, but not directly above the drain field.
DO NOT plant fruits or vegetables directly over the drain field. They can become infected by bacteria and will be dangerous to consume.
Avoid planting fast growing trees on or surrounding the drain field. In fact, avoid planting trees in the area altogether. When searching for moisture, the roots can extend deep underground and in turn can cause damage to the pipes and septic system.
Plants that require less water make good choices.
The area around the septic system can be salty from detergents, fabric softeners, and household effluent, so choose plants that thrive in a salty environment.
It’s important to wear gloves when planting on or around the drain field as the soil can have bacteria in it.
Be careful when tilling the soil to avoid damaging the pipes.

Here are some suggestions of good choices to plant near the septic system:

Shrubs – Oleander, Papyrus, Umbrella Grass, Swamp Mahogany
Climbers – Purple Coral Pea, Snake Vine, Common Jasmine, Passion Flower
Ground Covers – Shasta Daisy, Marguerite Daisy, Black Eyed Susan, Bog Salvia

We’d love to hear some of your gardening tips especially for planting over septic drain field! Please share in the comments, or head to our Facebook page and leave us a post.

For information on our septic tanks, please call us at 08 8444 8100

How to Water Your Garden With Water Collected in a Rainwater Tank

Wednesday, 9 October 2019 by Ri Industries

Before we discuss how to water your garden with water collected in a rainwater tank, let’s discuss why you might want to use rainwater.

First, rainwater harvesting reduces pollution. When rain falls, oil, pesticides, animal waste and fertilisers from lawns, footpaths, driveways, and streets get washed into our sewers which then overflow into rivers and estuaries. By harvesting rainwater, we eliminate those possible contaminants joining the water. Harvested rainwater is also free of salts, pollutants, and chlorine that are found in ground and surface water.

Second, harvested rainwater reduces demand on our water supplies. This is especially important during the summer months and times of drought.

Now that you have decided to harvest rainwater, how do you actually capture the water? We recommend installing a Ri-Industries Concrete Rainwater Tank. Our underground concrete rainwater tanks offer a number of advantages:

The water stays cooler.
No algae develops.
The water has no after-taste.
They are vandal-proof and fire-proof.
Being underground means they are out of sight and don’t take up much of your valuable real estate.
Concrete is stronger and more durable than plastic, steel or fibre glass.
Once the rainwater tank has been installed, you will need to move water from the tank to your garden. The best way to do this is with a pump.
Pump systems can be submerged underground or they can be free standing. They can provide enough pressure that the water flows similarly to mains water. You can also install a mains switch-over device to switch from rainwater to mains use when the rainwater runs out.

Another option to consider is having a header tank. This is a great option to use with underground tanks. The header tank will be placed at a higher level than the storage tank. A low-powered pump will transfer the water from the rainwater tank to the header tank, then you can use a gravity fed method to release the water. You can fit a garden tap near to the bottom of the header tank and use a soaker hose to transfer the water out of the tank, using gravity.

Watering your garden with harvested water is a great way to help conserve water and eliminate pollutants. Ri-Industries is proud to provide quality concrete rainwater tanks in Adelaide and surrounding areas for your use. Please call us to speak with one of our experts to learn more.

Garden with Less Water Using the Ri-Treat Waste Water Treatment System

Monday, 5 November 2018 by Ri Industries

As the weather warms, many of us experience a condition where our thumbs begin to turn green, the outdoors beckons, and the dirt calls us to dig in and get planting. If you love to garden, or simply love to have a green lawn, it’s a given you will spend ample time watering your property.

Did you know that an average Australian household will use 40% of its water in the garden? This makes the garden a prime location for water-saving techniques. Here are a few suggestions:

Install a dripper system and only water during the permitted hours.
Use mulch to prevent water loss through evaporation and prevent soil erosion.
Plant your garden in watering zones. Group plants that require large amounts of water together to reduce your water use.
Choose a drought resistant lawn.
Don’t over water your lawn – train it to use less water by encouraging the roots to grow deeper. Let grass grow longer in summer months which will shade the soil surface and reduce evaporation loss.
Don’t water during windy weather – water will blow away from where it’s needed most.
Instead of hosing, use a broom or rake to clean paths, paved areas and patios.

Another great tool to help reduce water waste is our Ri-Treat Waste Water Treatment System. The design is unique to Ri-Industries and guaranteed to be of superior quality.

Choosing a Ri-Treat waste water treatment system gives you a number of advantages:

A mono-cast 50 MPa reinforced concrete construction, with no fibreglass or plastic structural components, means that no untreated effluent will escape into the environment.
The high-quality bio-filter medium enhances the purity of the recycled water.
All irrigation pumps are submersible, quiet, reliable and inexpensive to operate.
The Japanese Air Pump offers the most reliable and efficient aeration and has a 2-year warranty.
Ri-Treat tanks come in three sizes, offering maximum flexibility and even allowing for an internal spa bath.
Child-proof and vandal-proof lids give you additional peace of mind.
A high-quality irrigation kit for more effective irrigation.
The septic tank is sealed as an additional precaution.
A manufacturers warranty on tank construction.

The operation of the unit has other unique features, such as automatic sludge and skimmer returns.

So go ahead and grow a luxurious lawn and lavish garden! Enjoy the fruits of your labour because Ri-Industries can help eliminate any guilt you might feel from the amount of watering needed to keep your garden beautiful. Call us to learn more about the Ri-Treat Waste Water System at 08 8444 8100.

Tips for Planting Around a Septic Tank

Thursday, 4 October 2018 by Ri Industries

Do you feel that? That’s the sun shining down and warming us up after a cold winter. And sunshine and warmth mean it’s time to start thinking about gardening. For those of us with septic tanks, that means thinking about the plants around your septic tank. How do you know where to plant and what to plant around your septic tank? That’s simple, you ask the experts at Ri-Industries for some tips.

Tip #1: No thirsty plants or trees with deep roots. The root system of water-loving shrubs can become entangled in the pipes of your septic system if planted too close to your drainage field and cause problematic clogging. The root system provides a tree’s primary way of absorbing water, and those roots will extend toward the most abundant source of water in your yard. This means that if a tree is planted too close to a septic system, its roots will grow in the direction of the wet drainage field around it.

Tip #2: It is NEVER safe to plant fruits and vegetables over the septic tank! Eating them might entail ingesting harmful bacteria and you certainly do not want to take that risk.

Tip #3: There is no reason to leave the ground above the septic tank bare. In fact, it is actually advisable to plant the right kind of vegetation to help prevent erosion. Perennials, annuals, and grasses have shallow roots and are good choices to cover the septic tank area. Willow Myrtle trees, Swamp Oak trees, River Red Gum trees, Papyrus shrubs, and Oleander shrubs make particularly good choices to plant near the septic tank.

Septic tanks are not only costly to install, but they provide a very necessary function for your home. It is in your best interest to take heed when planning the landscaping above and around the septic tank to avoid damage, costly repairs, and the extreme inconvenience that accompanies a non-working septic tank.

Ri-Industries produces concrete septic tanks and septic tank lids of the highest quality that are built to last. A septic tank from Ri-Industries delivers many benefits:

Engineer-designed and built from fine tolerance steel moulds
All horizontal tanks engineered to a maximum depth of 900mm
Manufactured from 40 MPa concrete to give additional strength and durability
Internally, all joints are sealed, reducing the potential for leakages
Available in 14 different sizes, for maximum flexibility
Child-proof and vandal-proof concrete lids on our septic tanks give you additional peace of mind – also available as stand-alone replacement lids

For more information, please call 08 8444 8100.

Water Your Garden AND Conserve Water

Thursday, 1 March 2018 by Ri Industries

Do you want a beautiful garden but worry it might conflict with your desire to conserve water? We say you can have your garden and conserve water with the Ri-Treat Waste Water System!

You deserve to have beautiful things in your life while feeling good about caring for our environment. The following tips will help you make smart choices when watering your home garden.

Use Ri-Treat to irrigate your garden

The Ri-Treat Waste Water Treatment System works to clean and re-use your waste water from the toilet, kitchen, and laundry to irrigate your garden. Ri-Treat features a high quality irrigation kit for more effective irrigation. This system is certainly a cost-efficient and environmentally friendly way to keep your garden looking green and healthy.

Water your garden only when it needs it

While the Ri-Treat system can efficiently recycle your waste water for your home, it’s up to you to decide when your garden needs watering. To find out if your lawn needs water, use this rule of thumb: stick your finger about 4 cm into the soil, and if the soil is not moist, it is time for a shower.

Water less often, but with gusto

Flower beds do well with just one or two watering sessions per week as long as it is a thorough watering.

Water when cool

Plan to water during evening or early morning hours when the soil is cool. Less water will evaporate than during the heat of the day, allowing the plants to retain sufficient water.

Dry leaves are healthy leaves

When kept wet overnight, leaf mold may form on leaves. Leaves that are left wet during the hot daytime hours may develop slight burn marks.

Put your garden on a schedule

For those of us who do not have time to stick our finger in the soil every day, it is recommended to water your garden deeply and infrequently (about 2.5 cm a week). But how do you measure how much water your lawn is soaking in? For this you can use a rain gauge or a cup of water placed on your garden and a ruler. Run your irrigation system for about 15 minutes, check the amount of water left in the cup or rain gauge, and you can do some quick calculations to find out how much water per hour is coming from the sprinkler.

So, go ahead and enjoy a beautiful garden at home while doing your part to conserve water. Have questions about the Ri-Treat Waste Water System? Give Ri-Industries a call at 08 8444 8100 and we’ll be happy to answer your questions.

Gardens Over Septic Tank Soakaways

Wednesday, 31 January 2018 by Ri Industries

When planning a garden, you may not think about your septic tank, but maybe you should. More specifically, you need to understand the do’s and don’ts of planting in or around your septic tank soakaway, also known as a soakage trench or drainage field.

First, what is a septic tank soakaway?

A septic tank soakaway is a series of underground, perforated pipes that allow septic tank effluent to soakaway over a large area. Excess nitrogen and phosphorus is removed from the effluent as it is purified by the soil. Plant roots can help your septic tank drain system work better by removing moisture and nutrients which in turn help the soil work more efficiently.

What should you plant over a septic tank soakaway?

Deep roots can damage soakaways, so shallow rooted plants are ideal for this area. A septic tank is generally installed about 0.6 to 0.9 meters underground, meaning you do not want the root systems of your small plants or shrubs to extend below this depth. The best plants to use near drainage fields are flowers, grasses, and small groundcovers that will not grow deep enough to disrupt the pipeline of your septic tank.

While Ri-Industries septic tanks are made from 40 MPa concrete, and the engineer-designed tanks are built to withstand anything, it is not recommended that anything with deep roots, especially trees, are planted near your septic system.

Tips: when planting, do not dig too deep and be sure to wear gloves to protect against bacteria that may be in the soil.

Dense covering, such as a lawn, is recommended over a septic tank soakaway to help prevent soil erosion.

Planting a lawn or garden over the soakaway is a good way to care for it while adding beauty to your landscape.

If you really must have plants near your septic system, speak with your garden specialist to find out the ph of your soil and choose shallow rooted plants suited to that ph level. Otherwise, the simplest answer is to plant a lawn over the soakage trench.

For questions about septic tanks, call Ri-Industries at 08 8444 8100.

Compost to Conserve Water

Monday, 30 November 2015 by Ri Industries

Water conservation can be achieved using many methods. We’ve talked about a lot of them, but one method we haven’t touched on yet is composting. Yes, composting can actually help us conserve water!

Let’s start at the beginning by answering the question, what is compost? Quite simply, compost is decomposed organic matter. It is generally made up of vegetable peelings, fruit waste, grass clippings, tea bags, and plant prunings, but other materials may be added as well. Compost is well known for adding nutrients to gardens and plants, but it also helps to conserve water.

Using composted mulch in landscaping and agriculture has been shown to improve the efficiency of water use by reducing evaporation, improving water infiltration and storage, and reducing deep drainage.

Turf grown with the application of composted soil conditioner can require up to 30% less water. This can increase root penetration, resulting in deeper root systems that explore a larger soil area for moisture and nutrients, reducing deep drainage and irrigation requirements. In sandy soils, composted soil conditioners improve water retention and lateral root distribution in the soil, improving plant access to soil water, and reducing deep drainage and irrigation requirements.

Compost application tips:

Composted mulch is applied on the soil surface around the plants after planting. It should not touch the stems and trunks of plants.
Compost can be applied any time of the year.
For water conservation, apply prior to summer when soil evaporation is usually highest and when plants require the most water.
Compost exposed to full sun will not deliver its full benefits so use compost on the soil and then cover it with mulch.

Here at Ri Industries we’re always on the lookout for water conservation tips we can share. This one can be a fun project and result in beautiful foliage and tasty fruit and vegetables. How great is that?

For more ways Ri Industries can help, contact us at 08 8444 8100.

Plants for Your Low Water Backyard Garden

Thursday, 8 January 2015 by Ri Industries

Garden plants help to define spaces and provide shade, screening and privacy. While you want the plants to be attractive, here in South Australia it is important to choose plants that have low water needs.

To help you get started, Hunter Water has compiled a list of such plants which we share here:

Small Trees: Crepe Myrtle, Medlar, Quince, Swamp Mallet, Willow Bottlebrush

Crepe Myrtle

Screening Shrubs: Feijoa, Escallonia, Common Myrtle, Hillock Bush

Common Myrtle

Small Shrubs: Gold Dust Wattle, Sage-Leaf Rock Rose, Native Fuchsia

Gold Dust Wattle

Ornamental Grasses: Feather Reed Grass, Turf Lily, Spiny-headed mat Rush, New Zealand Flax

Feather Reed Grass

Lawn Grasses: Common Couch, Buffalo Grass, Weeping Grass

Weeping Grass

Ri Industries has additional tips to help reduce water use in the garden. Please read our blogs, “Design Your Garden to Use Less Water” and “Reduce Water Use in the Garden.”

Garden Design Requiring Low Water Maintenance

Thursday, 11 December 2014 by Ri Industries

Tending a garden in South Australia can be a challenge due to our dry climate, but it is possible to design a garden to use less water. The following tips come via Hunter Water and can be useful to help you design a dream garden for your home.

Construct draining ditches so that they finish in garden beds.
Paths and courtyards can be pitched to drain to garden beds
Decks, gravel paths and gravel edges to paving can allow water to
soak into the ground.
Minimise lawn areas with paving, paths, decking and garden beds.
Minimise the number of pot plants as they dry out quickly and use more water than the same plant in the ground.
Minimise evaporation by using trees, fences, garden walls and shade cloth.
Mulch is magic for water saving. It reduces moisture loss but also suppresses weeds, maintains soil temperatures and generally improves the soil.
Group similar plants according to their water needs and you will reduce your overall
watering need.

Learn how the Ri –Treat Waste Water System can recycle your waste water for use in your garden and find even more helpful tips in Ri Industries blog “Tips to Save Water in the Garden.”

Reduce Water Use in the Garden

Tuesday, 7 October 2014 by Ri Industries

Did you know that an average Australian household will use 40% of its water in the garden? This makes the garden a prime location for water saving techniques. Here are a few suggestions:

Install a dripper system and only water during the permitted hours.
Use mulch to prevent water loss through evaporation and prevent soil erosion.
Plant your garden in watering zones. Group plants that require large amounts of water together to reduce your water use.
Choose a drought-resistant lawn.
Don’t over water your lawn – train it to use less water by encouraging the roots to grow deeper. Let grass grow longer in the summer months which will shade the soil surface and reduce evaporation loss.
Don’t water during windy weather – water will blow away from where it’s needed most.
Instead of hosing, use a broom or rake to clean paths, paved areas and patios.

Our Ri-Treat Waste Water Treatment System is another tool that will help with water use. By using this system, the waste water from your home will be treated and made usable for the garden. Call us to learn about all of our products on 08 8444 8100 and start saving water!

The Smart Way to Water Your Garden

Monday, 9 September 2013 by Ri Industries

You may have heard the saying, “The grass is always greener over the septic tank.” The moisture and nutrients in the drainage field of your septic tank help to fertilise your garden the natural way.

By taking interest in a Ri-Industries septic tank or aerobic waste water treatment system, you are already well on your way to conserving water and energy for your home. What you may not know is that the benefits of a septic tank or waste water treatment system do not stop with installation. Ri-Industries can help you water your garden the smart way, even after all of the wear and tear of daily use.

How to water your garden, the smart way:

#1: Use Ri-Treat to Irrigate Your Garden

The Ri-Treat Waste Water System works to clean and reuse your waste water from the toilet, kitchen, and laundry to irrigate your garden. Ri-Treat features a high quality irrigation kit for more effective irrigation. This system is certainly a cost-efficient and environmentally friendly way to keep your garden looking green and healthy.

#2: Water your garden only when it needs it

#3: Put your garden on a schedule

For those of us who do not have time to stick our fingers in the soil every day, it is recommended to water your garden deeply and infrequently (about 2.5 cm a week). But how do you measure how much water your lawn is soaking in? For this, you can use a rain gauge or a cup of water placed in your garden and a ruler. Run your irrigation system for about 15 minutes, check the amount of water left in the cup or rain gauge, and you can do some quick calculations to find out how much water per hour is coming from the sprinkler.

#4: Water early

When you use your irrigation system, some of the water will evaporate before it even hits your garden. To make sure that your garden drinks up the highest amount of water possible, try watering very early in the morning, sometime between 4 am and 9 am.

As always, the most important tip for using your irrigation system the smart way is: location, location, location! Make sure that you are watering your garden, and not the pavement or the letterbox. To discover more sustainable living options from Ri-Industries, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Garden Tips