Water and the Garden
Plants need water to grow and this demand reaches a peak in the hot, dry summer months when national water supplies are at their lowest.
With the drought we have experienced in recent years looking like it will become a common occurrence, gardeners have to learn not to rely on hoses and mains water.
- Water your garden using watering cans rather than hoses or sprinklers and target water around the base of plants.
- Install a water butt and use rain water on your garden
- Save your bath water and use it to water your garden. Water that has been used within the home for washing can be re-used in the garden providing it doesn’t contain strong detergents, chemicals or household cleaning agents.
- Surface mulches not only suppress weeds, they also keep the soil cool and reduce evaporation and soil compaction.
- Use water retaining crystals in hanging baskets and containers.
- Use drought tolerant planting such as thyme, evening primrose, rock rose, Californian poppy, pinks, lavender, buddleia and hebe.
- Improve your soil during the winter months by digging in lots of well rotted compost to boost your soils water retaining ability.
- Move containers into shady spots or under hanging baskets to catch the drips.
- Use containers with reservoirs to prevent evaporation.
- Double-lined hanging baskets will retain water better those with a single liner.
- All new planting should take place during the autumn and winter to reduce their establishment water demand.
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