How to effectively save water in your garden.

Summer is here, and the days are getting warmer – finally! And while enjoying those sunny rays and soaking up that vitamin D is so much fun, our gardens can suffer if they aren’t looked after properly. While we were on call to a customer with a drain blockage in Bracknell, he asked: “How do you keep your plants hydrated and your garden watered throughout the summer without running up your water bill?”

We’ve got all the information you need for effectively saving water in your garden. So, read on for our top tips and advice.

Water your garden at the right time.

One of the easiest ways to save water in your garden is to time your watering. If you water your garden at the hottest time of day, the sun will evaporate most of the water before it has the chance to soak into the soil.

That’s why, to save water, we would recommend watering your garden in the early hours of the morning or last thing at night. This ensures you do not have to water your garden every few hours during the day. It also lets your plants soak up the water they need to rehydrate after a day of sunshine.

Make use of water butts.

This is a great way to avoid increasing your water bill altogether because you don’t need to use water from the water mains! Water butts are the best way to store freshwater that you don’t have to pay for. Water butts fill up with rainwater and store it in your garden until you need to use it. Although this water is not good for drinking, it is ideal for your plants and is one of the most efficient and environmentally-friendly ways of watering your garden.

Add compost to your garden.

First of all, if you have a compost heap, well done! Having a compost heap or store is one of the best ways to ensure your garden stays hydrated and gets the nutrients it needs all year round. What’s more, adding compost to your garden helps hold moisture in the soil, meaning your plants stay hydrated for much longer throughout the day.

Add mulch around your plants.

Another effective way to keep the moisture in is to add a layer of mulch to your garden. This provides a protective layer on top of the soil that prevents water from evaporating. Adding a layer of mulch is an effective suppressant and helps reduce evaporation, retaining the water in the soil where it is needed the most.

Keep an eye on the weather.

If you’re not someone who checks the weather regularly, this may seem like an arduous task. However, checking the weather before you water your garden is one of the best ways to ensure you’re not wasting water. After all, there’s no point watering your garden first thing in the morning only to discover that it’s raining for the rest of the day. So, be sure to scan your local weather report before giving your garden water to check it won’t rain later.

Keep your lawn hydrated.

Your lawn is one of the thirstiest areas of your garden and is certainly the most noticeable spaces when dehydrated (all that brown, dry grass…yuck). Unfortunately, fixing the solution by running a sprinkler can be a huge waste of water once a day. In fact, having the sprinkler running for one hour uses as much water as a family of four in a day! And there is no need to do that.

Instead, we would recommend infrequently soaking your lawn. Although it might look boggy for a day or two, it will help your grass grow longer and encourage the soil to retain moisture.

Install drip irrigation.

Drip Irrigation is one of the best ways to water your garden and delivers the water directly to the plants that need it in a slow and sustained manner. Drip irrigation worked by a long tube laid out next to the plants with small holes through which water can be drip-fed. These systems can either be installed above or below ground and are an extremely effective way to save water in your garden.

Avoid overwatering your garden.

The final, and perhaps most important, tip for today is to avoid overwatering your garden. Not only is overwatering how you damage your plants, but it is also an excessive waste of water. Although it can be tempting to water your garden a lot on hot summer days, it can do more damage than good. Watering once a day is more than enough for the health of your garden.