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In the Garden 1 - Water and Selecting Plants

In the garden: the facts

Did you know, a dripping tap can waste 5,000 litres of water every year?

What can I do?

Everyone can help by becoming more aware of how much water they use. By taking a few simple steps to make better use of water in our gardens and homes, we can all help to make a difference.

Sensible watering
Sensible watering can significantly reduce the amount of water we use and combined with growing drought-tolerant plants and mulching the soil, we can all use less water and conserve existing supplies.

Established lawns really don't need watering.

Shrubs and trees
Most perennial plants, like shrubs and trees, only need to be watered during drought as they search out water for themselves.

The most vulnerable plants of all are bedding plants, vegetables and plants in pots, tubs or hanging baskets, which can dry out very quickly. Water them first thing in the morning or in the cool of the evening, so that less water is lost through evaporation and the plants get a longer drink.

Sprinklers
A garden sprinkler uses 1,000 litres of water an hour (that's nearly one pint for every 2 seconds it is in operation!) Sprinklers are very wasteful ways of watering your garden.

Watering cans or hand held hoses with a trigger gun attachment are an accurate and economic way of watering garden plants. Install water butts to harvest rainwater and reduce the amount of mains water used in the garden.

How can I do it?

The Recycle Works offer the best deals on water butts made from recycled plastic

Smart thinking

Hosepipe use
Remember that when using a hosepipe, your outside tap should be fitted with a double-check valve to prevent any risk of contaminating the mains water supply. Careful selection of the types of plants you choose to grow coupled with good planting techniques, will help to reduce water loss and ensure that your garden is always full of colour.

Mulches
Hints: The simplest way of locking in soil moisture, and suppressing weeds, is to apply a mulch - a mulch is a thick layer of material or plants that covers the surface of the soil between the plants.

A thick layer of chipped bark (7.5 cm or 3") will mulch very effectively and looks good, but it is fairly expensive so is best saved for small or prominent parts of the garden.

Elsewhere, you can use any of the cheaper composts, or a planting membrane disguised with a sprinkling of soil or bark chips. Remember to apply mulches when the soil is damp, so that moisture is locked in rather than out.

Certain plants thrive in dry soils, and if you live near the sea, many also enjoy coastal locations. Most herbs come from Mediterranean countries and flourish in hot dry summers with little water - in conditions like these they also taste better! If the soil in your garden is very free draining, if you live in an area of low rainfall, or if there's always one part of your garden that dries out in summer, then the following plants are worth considering.

Further information

The information above comes from Southern Water.

Navigation: Green Living > In the Garden 1 > 2 > 3

Navigation: Green Living > In the Garden 1 > 2 > 3
In the Garden 1 - Water and Selecting Plants
In the garden: the facts Did you know, a dripping tap can waste 5,000 litres of water every year?
What can I do? Everyone can help by becoming more aware of how much water they use. By taking a few simple steps to make better use of water in our gardens and homes, we can all help to make a difference. Sensible watering Sensible watering can significantly reduce the amount of water we use and combined with growing drought-tolerant plants and mulching the soil, we can all use less water and conserve existing supplies. Established lawns really don't need watering. Shrubs and trees Most perennial plants, like shrubs and trees, only need to be watered during drought as they search out water for themselves. The most vulnerable plants of all are bedding plants, vegetables and plants in pots, tubs or hanging baskets, which can dry out very quickly. Water them first thing in the morning or in the cool of the evening, so that less water is lost through evaporation and the plants get a longer drink. Sprinklers A garden sprinkler uses 1,000 litres of water an hour (that's nearly one pint for every 2 seconds it is in operation!) Sprinklers are very wasteful ways of watering your garden. Watering cans or hand held hoses with a trigger gun attachment are an accurate and economic way of watering garden plants. Install water butts to harvest rainwater and reduce the amount of mains water used in the garden.
How can I do it? The Recycle Works offer the best deals on water butts made from recycled plastic
Smart thinking Hosepipe use Remember that when using a hosepipe, your outside tap should be fitted with a double-check valve to prevent any risk of contaminating the mains water supply. Careful selection of the types of plants you choose to grow coupled with good planting techniques, will help to reduce water loss and ensure that your garden is always full of colour. Mulches Hints: The simplest way of locking in soil moisture, and suppressing weeds, is to apply a mulch - a mulch is a thick layer of material or plants that covers the surface of the soil between the plants. A thick layer of chipped bark (7.5 cm or 3") will mulch very effectively and looks good, but it is fairly expensive so is best saved for small or prominent parts of the garden. Elsewhere, you can use any of the cheaper composts, or a planting membrane disguised with a sprinkling of soil or bark chips. Remember to apply mulches when the soil is damp, so that moisture is locked in rather than out. Certain plants thrive in dry soils, and if you live near the sea, many also enjoy coastal locations. Most herbs come from Mediterranean countries and flourish in hot dry summers with little water - in conditions like these they also taste better! If the soil in your garden is very free draining, if you live in an area of low rainfall, or if there's always one part of your garden that dries out in summer, then the following plants are worth considering.
Further information The information above comes from Southern Water. Navigation: Green Living > In the Garden 1 > 2 > 3