How do I deal with long, hot, dry spells in my garden?

Long periods of hot, dry weather remind us how important water is! When these occur and, particularly when hosepipe bans are in force, it is imperative that we reduce our water usage.

There a few ways to do this -

😊 Install a water butt -
Saving precious rainfall is the one of the best ways to minimise water usage. If possible, install a water butt on every down pipe on your house, shed, greenhouse, conservatory or garage. You can purchase slimline versions for smaller gardens.
😊 Use water retaining products -

Water retaining gel or crystals help to retain water in containers, so you don’t need to water as often. Line terracotta pots with polythene to reduce evaporation from the sides of the pot.

😊 Mulch - 
To prevent evaporation of water from the soil’s surface, mulch with straw or bark. This will also help to keep slugs at bay and weeds from growing!

🙄 Sprinklers! -
Avoid them! They are not very efficient and can use up to 1,000 litres of water per hour!!😬 

😊’Grey’ water - 
Use bath water and washing up water rather than fresh tap water. It contains minimal amounts of soap and detergent, although, if you are planning on using regularly you should consider using eco friendly washing products.

😊 Water less -
To encourage your plants to develop deep root systems, water less often, a good soak every 10 days can be enough for some plants.

So, when we’re seeing hot/dry periods a lot more often, it’s really worthwhile to adopt some of the suggestions above. In the long run, as well as achieving a good looking garden, you’ll also be doing your bit to help all our pollinators 🐝🦋🐞