How to keep your garden watered during a hosepipe ban
The summer months bring sought-after sunny days and warmer weather; but long, unbroken spells of dry, hot weather can also lead to a need to conserve water.
Hosepipe bans or Temporary Use Bans can come into effect when there’s high demand and low supply for water and means we’re unable to use hosepipes to hydrate our plants, flowers, and lawns.
However, there are plenty of ways we can water our plants when a hosepipe ban is in effect with smarter, and sometimes more sustainable solutions.
What is a hosepipe ban?
When supplies of water are running low, water companies will take measures to manage them, including introducing a ban on using a hosepipe for things like:
- Watering the garden
- Filling a paddling pool
- Washing the car
- Filling an ornamental fountain
- Cleaning windows or any other part of your house or outdoor space
They usually come into effect when there’s been a long period of dry, warm weather, and there’s an increase in demand for fresh water but with a lower supply due to reduced rainfall.
Anyone caught using a hosepipe when there’s a ban faces quite a hefty fine, so it’s worth coming up with more creative ways to keep our gardens looking fresh over the summer months.
Can you use a watering can during a hosepipe ban?
Yes, when there’s a hosepipe ban, you’re able to water your plants using a watering can.
The most sustainable and eco-friendly way to do this is by using collected rainwater from a butt, but you are also able to fill the watering can from your kitchen or bathroom tap.
Watering cans are also a long-term, sustainable solution to watering – Affinity Water suggests that using a hosepipe or sprinkler for only an hour can use as much water as a family of four uses in just one day!
Another great solution is to use recycled water you’ve saved from showers, baths, or the kitchen, to use on any ornamental plants you’re growing. Just be sure there’s no bleach, strong detergents, or chemicals in your water, and avoid using this kind of recycled water on crops you eat (such as on your vegetable patch).
Using collected rainwater to water your plants
Using collected rainwater in a Water Butt is not only a sustainable and easy solution to keep your garden healthy and watered during hot weather, but it’s also great for your plants as it containers fewer salts and chemicals than most tap water.
Butts also help reduce flooding during heavy rainfall, siphoning water from the roof of your house, garage, or shed.
Water butts can be used year-round for a climate-friendly way to reuse water, but are also a great solution when there’s a hosepipe ban and your plants need hydrating.
You can read our full guide on how to harvest rainwater for your garden here.
How to use water saving gel in the garden
Water gel is another way you can keep your plants hydrated. They retain moisture after watering and slow release into your soil, reducing the need for the hose when there’s a ban.
When planting out new flowers or crops, mix the solution in with the soil and the granules will hold more than their weight in water and create a moisture-retaining gel around plant roots. This gel will then release water as needed to maintain consistent hydration, reducing the need for watering even in drier spells.
Advice for watering plants in hot weather
When temperatures increase, a little extra care in your garden can go a long way, especially when there’s limited resources or restrictions in place.
Water (from a can or butte) early in the morning or later in the evening when the sun isn’t too harsh and temperatures are cooler. This ensures that moisture reaches the roots of your plants instead of evaporating in the midday heat.
Water deeply, but less often to encourage stronger, deeper root growth.
Add a layer of mulch around plants to help lock in moisture and keep the soil cooler.
Prioritise care for newly planted flowers, vegetables, and containers, as they’ll dry out much faster than established plants.
What flowers can survive a drought?
Hosepipe bans are likely to increase in summers to come, so there are a few planting changes you can make in your garden to ensure an outdoor space that stays blooming during hotter, warmer weather.
Drought-resistant plants, once established, can withstand drier conditions, especially when compost or manure has been added to the soil before planting to help improve water retention.
Agapanthus, lavender, salvia, geraniums, and verbena are all great options for colourful garden displays. You can also plant succulents, whose thick leaves retain water and are more suitable for more dry, warmer climates.
How to know if there is a hosepipe ban
A hosepipe ban can be enforced or extended by water companies with minimal notice, which is why it’s important to keep up to date on the latest rules and sources.
You can always check your local water company’s website – if you’re not sure who your supplier is, the Water UK postcode checker is a handy tool to use. Sites like the Met Office and local news outlets will report on any significantly hot weather and can help inform on water availability in your area.