How to water plants during a hosepipe ban

Watering plants with a watering can

Changing weather patterns due to climate change are resulting in longer and more frequent periods without rain, putting water resources under increasing pressure. Hosepipe bans are therefore becoming more frequent. Hosepipe bans are designed to restrict water consumption by banning the use of a hose for watering plants, as well as activities including cleaning the car, filling pools and hot tubs, and cleaning paths. But don’t despair, there are plenty of ways to keep your plants watered, especially with some prior planning.

How do I know if there is a hosepipe ban?

Check with your water company to see if there is a hosepipe ban in force for your area. You can find your water company details on your utility bill or using the list below.

Permitted hosepipe use during a ban

Even during a ban, the use of a hosepipe for some activities is still allowed. Do check your water company’s website for exact details of what each one permits, which is likely to include the watering of crops, recently planted trees and shrubs, and newly laid lawns.

Irrigation systems that involve drip or trickle irrigation only, which are fitted with a pressure reducing valve and a timer, and are not handheld, are also permitted.

Customers who are listed on the Priority Services Register are exempt from hosepipe bans and are therefore allowed to use a hosepipe. These include elderly or disabled customers, those recovering from injury or those in an otherwise vulnerable position. If you’re not on the register and feel you should be, apply as soon as possible, even if a ban is not yet in force in your area.

Can I water my plants in a drought?

Watering a container display of heucheras. Jason Ingram
Watering a container display of heucheras. Jason Ingram

A hosepipe ban means you are banned from using a hose connected to a tap fed by mains water. However, using a watering can or bucket filled from a mains water tap is permitted, as is using a hose connected to a water butt, well or borehole.

How to water your plants in a drought

Using collected rain water

Filling a watering can from a water butt.
Filling a watering can from a water butt.

Rain water is great for your plants as it’s softer and contains fewer salts and chemicals than tap water. According to WaterUK, the average roof collects 85,000 litres of rain a year, enough to fill a water butt 450 times. Water butts come in many different designs and sizes. Buy the largest one you can afford that will sensibly fit close to the downpipe from your guttering. You can fix waterbutts to downpipes from any roof, including your house, garage, shed or greenhouse. You can add guttering and downpipes where necessary.

A rain diverter that shuts off the inflow can help to prevent problems when the butt is full. Collect even more water by linking two or more water butts together.

Using waste water

Using grey water from the washing up bowl to water the garden
Using grey water from the washing up bowl to water the garden

Domestic waste water from washing up, vegetable preparation, the bath or shower, or hand-washing clothes, is known as ‘grey’ water. This is fine to use for watering plants, as long as it doesn’t contain strong detergents, bleach or dishwasher salts. For hygiene reasons, avoid using bath or shower water on crops such as salads, which are eaten raw. Use grey water immediately rather than storing for later use, as it can quickly spoil. Never use ‘black’ water, which is water is from toilets.

Target plants that need it most

Watering a mulberry tree in a pot
Watering a mulberry tree in a pot

Prioritise watering for those plants that would really suffer otherwise. This includes all plants growing in containers such as seedlings, anything newly planted, thirsty crops such as pod and fruit-producing vegetables, and flowers like sweet peas and dahlias. Established plants should be able to tolerate periods of drought, especially if the soil is mulched annually with compost or another type of organic matter which acts like a sponge in the soil, holding on to water for plants to use. Don’t worry when the lawn turns brown – it will soon green up again when rain falls.

Time your watering

Using a timer to restrict water use in the garden. Jason Ingram
Using a timer to restrict water use in the garden. Jason Ingram

The best times to water are in the early morning and the evening, when less water is lost by evaporation and there’s no danger of flowers or foliage becoming scorched by water splash.

Set up an irrigation system

Drip irrigation system used to water pots
Drip irrigation system used to water pots

Many different watering or irrigation systems are available for gardens, using drip or ‘trickle’ irrigation. If these are fitted with a pressure reducing valve and a timer, and not handheld, they are permitted for use during a hosepipe ban.



from BBC Gardeners World Magazine https://ift.tt/GP34Xui