10× reduction in water (BOM climate data) consumption. 70–80% of water recycled through UV sterilisation and closed-loop drainage. Computerised irrigation delivering water precisely where and when it is needed.
Commercial nursery production is water-intensive. A 14-acre production nursery growing 97 species across 24 container sizes requires significant and consistent irrigation — and historically, that meant significant water use and the associated environmental footprint.
Since the Howarth family took over Cape Nursery in 2005, reducing that footprint has been a sustained operational priority. The result is a water system that delivers the same plant quality at a fraction of the environmental cost.
Our growing areas drain into a purpose-built collection system rather than to ground. Collected water passes through UV sterilisation — which eliminates waterborne pathogens including Phytophthora — and is returned to the irrigation system. Between 70 and 80 percent of all water applied to plants is recovered and reused in this way.
The dual benefit of this system is significant: dramatically reduced freshwater draw, and UV-sterilised irrigation water that eliminates the risk of waterborne disease transmission. The biosecurity and sustainability outcomes reinforce each other.
Drip irrigation, controlled by a computerised management system, replaced overhead spray irrigation across the growing site. The system delivers water directly to root zones at controlled rates, eliminating the evaporative losses and overwatering inherent in overhead spray systems.
Irrigation schedules are programmable by zone, allowing different species, container sizes, and seasonal requirements to be managed independently. The result is plants that receive exactly the water they need — no more, no less — which improves root development and reduces stress-related disease susceptibility.