Bales of coarse sugar cane mulch are laid on the garden at least twice a year at the Wintle’s house. Ian and Judy Wintle use about 150 bales every year on their acre block at Birkdale, a Bayside suburb of Brisbane.

“It’s a great soil improver, adding humus which improves water retention,” says Ian. Compost from three large bins is also added plus trailer loads of animal manure. Does this all sound smelly? It's not. The only perfume that comes from the Wintle garden is fresh, cool air, backed up by the perfume from 1000s of beautiful plants.

The Wintle’s enjoy a tropical smorgasbord on fruits from over 40 trees such as Sapodillas, Custard Apples, Lychees and Black Sapote. Black Sapote is an unusual chocolate coloured fruit, which can be made into a delicious ice-cream or sorbet.

They have 80,000 litres of water in six rainwater tanks, which were installed in stages. They started with just one 15,000-litre tank, but added to this as their garden expanded and dry weather continued.

“We are now in a position that our mains water use is well below the Redland City average. Basically that means that we use less water than a townhouse, which is amazing considering that we have thousands of plants to care for.”

With the rainwater tanks installed the Wintles believe they can reduce their mains water use even further.

“This should now make us ‘drought proof’.”

The garden is still evolving. The Wintles undertake at least one major project and a few minor ones each year.

“We’re almost there.”

I’ve heard that before.

By using SMART gardening practices utilising seaweed (kelp) fertilisers, rainwater, mulching, worm farms, composting and native beehives this garden remains healthy and productive all year round.

“With the drought our garden practices have been severely tested but by using the SMART principles we have hopefully come through the worst.”

"Mulching not only protects the soil but organic mulches break down adding to the soil’s ability to hold water."