Save water in your garden
"Gardens have provided solace for many ... and the RHS is delighted to see a growing number of gardeners working on their gardens and green spaces during this time. We want to continue supporting gardeners from all around the UK especially those re-discovering their gardens, but also encourage everyone to think carefully about the water they’re using, particularly with all the sunshine we’ve been experiencing."
Janet Manning, RHS Water Management Specialist (RHS.org.uk 22 June 2020)
3 easy ways to save
Use a watering can instead of a hose or sprinkler
A hose and sprinkler can use about 1000 litres an hour, equivalent to the same amount of water one person would normally use in a whole week.
Using a watering can reduce water usage significantly, and help you become more aware of the amount of water you use.
Be sure to water the base of your plants and not waste your effort or water spraying all the foliage as well. Most of this water simply evaporates.
Install a water butt to harvest rainwater
Harvesting rainwater reduces water use from your taps and is actually better for your plants.
It can also help reduce pressure on drains during periods of intense rain.
If you don’t have space for a water butt, you can improve the water holding capacity of your soil by adding organic materials such as homemade compost or well-rotted manure, so when it does rain, more water stays in the soil rather than draining away.
Lawns are more resilient than you think
In extended periods of summer drought, turf grasses turn brown and stop growing.
This often looks a lot worse than it actually is, and the lawn will usually recover rapidly with rain starts to fall again. It would take a really severe drought to actually kill off the lawn.
Most lawns recover rapidly with the onset of autumn rainfall, especially if appropriate autumn lawn care is given. While you can't prevent drought, you can take measures to prevent the damage drought causes your lawn.