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Watering ninja or newbie?

Feb 08, 2024, updated Jun 05, 2025

Got a full-size garden or pot plants on a balcony? Take our quiz to increase your watering knowledge and, in turn, save your plants, water and cash.

The team at SA Water knows a fair bit (okay, maybe bucketloads) about water and how to use it efficiently inside and outside the home. Which makes them the perfect people to tap (*eye roll*) for this refresher on being waterwise in the garden.

We reckon South Australians are pretty knowledgeable about watering, but there’s always more to learn. So, we’re throwing down the gardening gauntlet with our quiz.

Give it a go and discover – are you a watering ninja or newbie?

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SA Water Quiz

Take the quiz!

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1. When is the most effective time to water?

A. Midday because plants take in more water in bright sunlight

B. At sunrise when the soil is at its coldest

C. Before 9am and after 6pm

CORRECT!

Try Again

2. What is the best length for a lawn in summer?

A. 1 cm – allowing water to better reach the roots while allowing sunlight to kill any bacteria

B. 2 cm – protecting the soil from the sun, reducing evaporation and keeps the soil moist

C. 20 cm – providing shade for new shoots and greater surface area for chlorophyll production, in turn making it more resilient to heat stress

CORRECT!

Try Again

3. How can you reduce water usage in your garden?

A. Wet the leaves only and do this every day, so not to encourage weed growth in the soil

B. Install a drip irrigation system to deliver water directly to the base of the plants, minimising how much is wasted through evaporation and runoff

C. Give plants a ‘good soak’ once a week for three hours, helping the water to reach even the deepest roots

CORRECT!

Try Again

4. Why should you add mulch to your garden beds?

A. Because it reduces evaporation from the soil, as well as suppressing weed growth and regulating soil temperature

B. Because it looks pretty and makes the plants ‘pop’

C. Because it increases evaporation from the soil, helping plants to grow stronger

CORRECT!

Try Again

5. By how much can a simple misting system reduce air temperature?

A. By 10 to 15 degrees Celsius

B. By 30 degrees Celsius

C. Misters actually raise air temperature

CORRECT!

Try Again

6. What is xeriscaping?

A. A type of native grass used for lawns

B. Landscaping with drought-tolerant plants

C. Watering plants excessively

CORRECT!

Try Again

7. How much water does an efficient misting system use in two hours?

A. As much as 3 bath tubs

B. As much as 5 washing machine cycles

C. As much as a 1-minute shower

CORRECT!

Try Again

How did you score?

6-7 Ninja status. You’ve got all the right moves when it comes to watering.

3–5 Not bad at all. But there’s room to grow and flourish.

0–2 Newbie. Like Kevin Costner’s Waterworld, you’re unlikely to see a good return.

Brush up on your waterwise knowledge via SA Water here.

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