Paperclip Watering can watering greenhouse crops Watering can watering greenhouse crops

Hosepipe Ban – Work Arounds and How to Keep Your Garden on Song

Andrew White

Andrew White

Rhino's Gardening Enthusiast & Greenhouse Expert

Hosepipe bans; a rarity in the past, with the exception of 1976, of course, but in recent years as our summers have gotten hotter and longer, we’ve come to expect them. The banning of hosepipe use causes much distress for all gardeners, but it can be overcome. So, just how do you keep your plants watered, healthy and alive during these periods?

Watering Can

Different watering strategies for your garden

If you have got a hosepipe ban in your area, there are several different watering tactics you can employ to keep your garden watered.

  • Using watering cans or buckets. Either of these containers is good for watering your plants in the garden. Although, it is a bit more time-consuming and heavier work, particularly if you have a medium or larger size garden or vegetables.
  • Install a drip irrigation system. Becoming more popular these days, especially for people with big gardens or vegetable patches, drip irrigation systems are exempt during hosepipe bans. Systems like WaterMate are very efficient and can save water consumption by as much as 70-90%. Drip irrigation systems also make sure the constant drip of water gets to the roots of your plants rather than evaporate on leaves in hot, dry weather conditions. They usually come in kit form and different systems are available for different garden environments, like raised beds, hanging baskets, containers and larger plots of land. Remember that irrigation systems will need adjusting depending on the time of year and the amount of water the plants will need.
  • Water morning and evening. During hot and humid weather, when you water plants during the day, the water is likely to evaporate before the plants can fully absorb it. Therefore, water in the morning and evening when it is cooler and try to get as much water on the roots.
  • Target the roots. As well as watering in the morning or evening, target the roots as much as possible and give them a thorough soaking as it will keep the roots hydrated. This is especially relevant for plants with large leaves as the leaves will protect the watered roots, meaning you may not have to water twice a day.

When watering your plants in the garden, let the water flow gently as it takes time for the soil around the roots to absorb the water. Too heavy a flow will usually mean the water just runs off the area and away from the plant, wasting water and not doing the plants any good at all.

Mulching and soil preparation

Putting a layer of mulch, about 4 inches thick, around the base of your plants aids water retention. The mulch is able to store water and drip-feed it to the roots. It also slows down the effect of moisture evaporating during hot weather. However, make sure the ground is at least damp, if not wet (not waterlogged) before you put the mulch down. An added benefit of using mulch is that it also suppresses weed growth.

There are a variety of mulch types, including:

  • Shredded bark.
  • Wood chippings.
  • Organic garden compost, like grass cuttings and mushroom compost.
  • Leaf mould, like autumn leaves.
  • Straw, as you see around the base of strawberry plants.
  • Gravel, stone chippings and slate.
  • Crushed seashells.

The best time to lay your mulch is mid-spring or during the autumn when the soil’s temperature is warmer, and water the soil before you put it down. To keep weed growth to an absolute minimum, add some newspaper or specific weed-control woven fabric under the mulch and around the bottom of the plants. However, thoroughly weed the bed first and make sure you do not strangle the plant’s roots.

Plant selection and placement

Managing your garden during a drought, which is becoming a regular occurrence in the UK, can start with choosing the right plants and their placement. Many plants are resistant to hot, dry conditions, as well as plants that need little water or maintenance. Here are some of our top tips for making your garden more drought resistant.

  • Improve soil structure. Even if you are on clay, you can dramatically improve the structure of the soil to help it retain water better for the plants. Dig in deep large amounts of well-rotted organic matter that includes grass cuttings, mushroom compost, farm/equestrian yard manure, straw and composted bark.
  • Keep plants nutrient ric