Save water outdoors

Be water-savvy when planting

Help your garden bloom while saving water with a few smart planting tips:

Care for your soil

• Increase moisture retention by adding water-retaining granules or absorbent compost into soil
• Seal in water with a layer of mulch - compost, leaf mulch, bark, or similar materials help to stop evaporation.

Choose plants that cope with drought

• Choose Mediterranean or drought-resistant plants for the hottest spots in your garden - they’ll find it easier to stay healthy in a drought
• Use ground cover plants to shade bare soil, so it loses less heat.

Caring for containers

• Place pots in groups to create shade and help them stay cool
• Think about which pot to use - light-coloured pots stay cool, while glazed or plastic ones retain moisture better than traditional ceramic
• Move pots away from hot surfaces like patios during heatwaves to prevent roots from overheating.

Don’t overwater your lawn

You can harm plants and grass by watering them too much – this encourages shallow roots, which results in a weaker plant. Here are some idea for keeping your garden healthy and water-wise:

Better watering

• Only seedlings and young plants need to be watered regularly - mature plants can usually go five days or more without a top-up
• Encourage healthier roots by watering less often but more thoroughly
• Fill a watering can from your water butt, and aim the water directly at the base of the plant - watering the surrounding soil just feeds weeds
• Of you can, water plants early in the morning or late in the evening to reduce evaporation so they get the most benefit

Caring for your lawn

• Don’t water it - this encourages shallow roots and wastes water
• Choose drought-tolerant grass seed when reseeding or starting a new lawn
• Don’t fret if it turns brown in dry weather – the grass is just dormant and will bounce back when it rains
• Leave grass clippings on the lawn in early summer – they will act like a mulch on the soil, helping to retain moisture.

Get a water butt

Installing a water butt is a win-win for your garden - and the environment. The average UK roof collects enough rain each year to fill a water butt 450 times.

Why you should get a water butt:

• Free water on tap, right in the garden where it’s needed
• Healthy plants - many plants prefer the natural temperature and slight acidity of rainwater
• Natural fertiliser – unlike tap water, rainwater has nutrients that plants need
• Fits anywhere – there are water butts in lots of designs, shapes and sizes so you can get one in almost any outdoor space.

Water butts can be used for more than plants:

You can also use rainwater for:

• Rinsing muddy boots, surfboards, or wetsuits
• Filling up a bucket for car washing
• Cleaning garden tools or muddy veg
• Wiping down windows
• You can even get attachments to let you use your water butt with a power washer.

Use less water when washing your car

Car looking a bit dirty? Washing a car with a hosepipe uses up to 480 litres of water, while using four buckets only uses around 32 litres. Keep your car shiny and bright while saving water with these tips:

• Check the weather forecast – rain might do the job for you
• Try waterless car wash products for quick, environmentally-friendly cleaning
• Use a bucket and sponge instead of a hose to use less water
• Fill your bucket from a water butt to wash your car
• Wash particularly mucky parts between full washes so you use less water.