Get smart using water in your garden.

Water matters. Every day, gardeners are coming under increasing pressure from climate change, and population growth. It’s important to understand how much water plants need as well as when and how to water them for the best results.

Collect rainwater

Watering your plants with natural rainwater is a great alternative to using tap water, which can harm certain plants and flower varieties. Plus, it’s free and in the UK, there’s no shortage of rain. Use the following tools to collect rainwater:

  • Water butts

  • Water tanks

  • Baskets and containers like watering cans

Use less

  1. Water butts and alternative methods – as listed above, these tools are extremely effective for collecting rainwater. When rain is forecast, make sure to set out something to collect it.

  2. Switch to watering in the morning – domestic water use tends to peak in the early evening, so watering early in the morning helps reduce demand later in the day. It also ensures your plants can draw on the water throughout the day, rather than losing it to evaporation or drainage overnight.

  3. Don’t water your lawn – lawns are resilient, and you may be surprised how quickly they recover after rainfall.

  4. Swap hoses for a watering can – using a hose for one hour uses as much water as a family of 4 consumes in 2 days under normal circumstances. A watering can, can help slow the flow and reduce waste.

  5. Train your plants to drink more slowly – Use less water overall to encourage deep root growth and more resilient plants.

Understanding water pollution

To protect water sources and aquatic wildlife, gardeners need to understand how to prevent water pollution caused by imposes disposal of garden care chemicals. Water companies are required to provide clean drinking water at the tap and are working to reduce raw water pollution. In the UK, water is often abstracted from rivers, and pollutants must be removed before the water can be safely supplied for domestic use. You can do your part by:

  • Never disposing of unwanted or diluted products, or rinsing residues, into drains, ditches, or ponds.

  • Being aware of any nearby ditches and watercourses and never applying chemicals close to or into them.