Wicking beds keep plants healthy and save water and labour

Linea Planters and Frame Planters are keeping plants healthy while reducing maintenance costs, thanks to wicking beds.

Wicking beds by WaterUps save up to 80% of water when compared with traditional drip irrigation. According to WaterUps, watering is only necessary every two weeks in summer, decreasing to four weeks in autumn and six weeks in winter. 

Wollongong City Council first installed wicking beds in their planters in 2019. Before installation the Council’s gardeners were watering their plants two to three times a week. 

“Now, when it gets warm, we’re probably just doing it once a week, depending on what’s in there and how big the pot is,” says Wollongong Council horticulturist Peter Parsons.

There are currently 240 planters across Wollongong CBD maintained by the council, with about 90% watered with wicking beds. The team are saving both water and labour.

“Instead of spending so much time watering, you can actually water a section of pots and do maintenance at the same time. So you’re not rushing from pot to pot,” says Parsons.

The success of wicking beds is in providing water from below the roots rather than the soil surface through an easily accessible pipe. The pipe is discreetly hidden amongst foliage and a cap keeps insects, such as mosquito larvae out of the water.

As water is drawn upwards to the roots, moisture is evenly distributed through the soil. A hole in the side of the liner of the Linea Planter allows excess water to drain off, preventing the plants from overwatering.

“You fill the (wicking bed pipe) and as soon as it’s overflowing you stop. So there’s not as much water flowing onto the footpath.” Parsons also noted “there’s not as many weeds growing in the pathways because they’re not getting watered as much”.

Wicking beds need a level surface to distribute water evenly throughout the soil. That’s why Linea Planters come with adjustable feet, giving greater flexibility to where planters are placed.  

Parsons acknowledges the use of wicking beds has made the Wollongong City Council’s watering schedule more sustainable. “We’ve bought hundreds of them and we continue to use them. It’s definitely a product that’s saving on water.”