Water-wise Gardening
by Emma Cooper

According to Thames Water, only 6% of household water is normally used on the garden – but in hot weather this figure can soar to 50%. We’re all aware that clean water is a precious resource, but none of us wants to see our well-tended gardens turn brown and crispy in a summer drought.

There are some easy ways you can plan ahead for next year to improve the water efficiency of your garden, so that it looks better for longer in hot weather and survives if you go away on holiday and so that watering becomes less of a chore. You can also reduce your dependence on mains water – a definite advantage if there’s a hose-pipe ban, or if you have a water meter.

The first thing to consider is whether you can find a home for a water butt. These are usually connected to the down pipe from your guttering to collect water as it runs from the roof. If you can find a space for one or more butts then you have a free source of water, and rain water is better for plants too. Many local councils and water companies offer subsidised water butts to households. If you’re worried about what it looks like, then shop around – there are many water butts on the market that will blend into any landscape.

Next you should add as much organic matter to your soil as possible. It doesn’t matter whether it’s leaf mould, homemade compost, commercial compost or well-rotted manure, but organic matter in the soil holds water and reduces the need for watering. Leaving your organic matter on the soil as a mulch (rather than digging it in) will have an extra positive effect, as a mulch reduces evaporation from the soil surface.

When you do water, do so at the base of plants, so that it goes to the roots where it is needed. Try to avoid watering during the heat of the day, and use a hose with a trigger gun so that you’re not wasting water on paths and uncultivated areas. Water well once or twice a week rather than little and often. Daily watering encourages many plants to grow shallow roots – leaving them more vulnerable in dry weather.

Check whether a plant needs water by pushing your finger a short way down into the soil – even when the surface is dry the soil underneath may still be damp.
Lawns, ornamental plantings and fruit trees can benefit from the use of grey water – water that has been used for washing up or bath water. You might not want to store grey water because of the dirt and detergents it contains, or use it on leafy vegetables, but it can breathe new life into the garden where you do use it. Spread it around to avoid any potential problems with the build-up of detergents in the soil.

If you have a drought-prone garden, the best thing you can do is choose your plants with this in mind. Mature perennial plants are generally more drought-tolerant than annuals, and there are many plants that love drier conditions.

Water-wise tips

• Don’t mow your lawn as short in hot weather – longer grass is more drought-resistant and stays greener for longer.
• Water in the early morning, or late evening, to reduce evaporation and increase the amount of water that gets to plant roots.
• Choose drought-resistant plants. Established perennials and Mediterranean plants, like lavender, rosemary, cistus and euphorbias, have much lower water needs.
• When you do water, concentrate on plants that really need it – container plants, seedlings and fruiting vegetables.