Save water in the garden

Mon, Jun 22, 2009

Enough rainwater falls in the UK to meet the needs of every household

Water conservation is a major activity for gardeners now this very hot weather has arrived. Every plant needs water to survive. It is a vital source for growth and without it we would not be able to enjoy beautiful gardens.

Climate change and changing rainfall patterns affect the water supply we have come to rely on. There is no longer a guarantee that rain will fall exactly when we need it and the amount of rain that we receive is often now concentrated into a far shorter period.

In the past watering your garden was one of life’s pleasures, but climate change is changing this . Gardeners will have to adapt to long periods of drought and explore ways to use water more wisely:

MEASURE WHAT YOU USE

Why not have a water meter installed to ensure that you use water wisely in the garden - this might also save you money. Most households in the UK are entitled to a free water meter from their water company on request. This will help you to think about how and when you use mains water.

RE-USE WHAT YOU HAVE

Think seriously about how you might harvest and re-cycle your water supplies?

Harvested rainwater can produce healthier plants as well as saving our precious supplies .

In fact, most plants prefer rain water to tap water. It contains more pH and is free of chemicals such as chlorine.

CHECK WHAT WATER PLANTS WILL NEED

Before you buy ANY plant from ANY nursery, it is always a good idea to check how much water it will need to establish itself and to grow in summer drought conditions. It is obviously better not to buy plants that will require lots of water unless you are prepared to harvest or re-cycle your water on a regular basis.

Hanging baskets for example require daily watering and during dry periods will dry out very quickly. You may loose the plants in your display if you do not think about how you will keep them moist before you buy.