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You may think water wise gardening is unnecessary in the UK, where it always seems to be raining. That’s not the case, though, as while the UK does get a lot of water, we also use much more than we should. On average, a UK household uses 150 litres of water a day, and water wise gardening can help make a serious dent in that number. Being conservative with the water you use in your garden will help preserve the UK’s wetlands, as well as save you money on water bills.

Mulch much?

Laying mulch is like giving your garden a protective blanket. In the summer, mulch reduces weeds and keeps soil cool and moist. In winter, mulch protects plants’ delicate roots from freezing temperatures. Mulch is commonly made of bark and wood chips, but rocks, cocoa bean hulls and even straw will work just as well at reducing the amount of water your plants need.

Be sprinkler savvy

Sprinklers can use up to 1,000 litres of water an hour – that’s a lot more than the average family in the UK uses in an entire day. Using a watering can will help you stay water wise, and during a hose pipe ban, it’ll be your only option for watering. To avoid too much water evaporating when you use your watering can, always water late in the evening or early in the morning, and never in full sun.

Reduce, re-use, recycle

‘Grey water’ is water that has been used for bathing or washing, and instead of throwing it out, you can use it to water your garden. As long as your grey water doesn’t include strong detergents or household cleaning chemicals, your plants won’t notice the difference. If you do use grey water, just be sure to label it carefully, only use it on your plant’s roots – never their leaves – and don’t store it for too long, as it can go rancid.

For more water wise tips, visit waterwise.org.uk.

Tags: gardening