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RE: Wetting agents in the garden

Hi Michael,  
Your right any detergent works OK but it dosen't actually save water
The detergent is usefull in allowing the water to penetrate the soil so
it becomes avaiable for root uptake
In WA water reppellent soils are a serious problem and many people will
pour the water onto lawns and gardens not realizing that it is only
penetrating a few millimetres then running off.
The same thing can happen in pots as well if allowed to dry out to much,
the water just pours straight though.  The detergent that you buy to
treat water reppellent soils is just very concentrated as so can be
applied over much larger areas more effectively than normal household
detergents.  If your only treating a small area household stuff will do
OK.

I use the soapy water left over from washing my bike clothes to water
various parts of the estate that have become a little desertified.  This
is a liquid detergent rather than granular type.  Some people use the
water from their washing machine on the garden but that can cause
problems with litterally clogging the soil with the particles from the
wash,  you would need to rotate this water around the garden and keep it
well aerated to avoid this.


As for saving water, well it lets the water get to where the plant can
access it
you won't be wasting water any more thats the real point eh!

Merry Christmas all

Cheers, Rod

Rod Randall
Weed Risk Assessment
Weed Science Group, Agriculture Western Australia
Home Page  http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/progserv/plants/weeds/Weedsci.htm

             "I weed..."

> ----------
> From: 	Michael Bailes
> Reply To: 	frgntgar@ozemail.com.au
> Sent: 	Sunday, December 14, 1997 2:36 PM
> To: 	Medit-Plants Discussion List
> Subject: 	Wetting agents in the garden
> 
> I have been experimenting with the new wetting agents in an attempt to
> save
> water
> how different are they from normal household detergent?
> Does anyone know?
> I tried some detergent the other day and it seemed to work as well and
> was
> $$$s cheaper.
> Any chemists out there in cyberland?
> 
> Merry Christmas
> Michael Bailes,  The Fragrant Garden Portsmouth Road Erina. N.S.W.
> 2250
> Australia. (OZ)
> Int fax 61 243 651979  Phone 61 243 677322
> frgntgar@ozemail.com.au
> web page at:
> http://www.ozemail.com.au/~frgntgar/
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