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Save water outdoors

Your garden can thrive without the need for constant watering. There are lots of ways to help your plants bloom while saving water.

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.

two people planting

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.

Watering vegetables with a watering can

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.

Water butts by a shed

Use less water when washing your car

Keep your car shiny and bright while saving water with these tips:

  • 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.
  • 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.

Man washing a car with a sponge

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Drought resistant plants
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Lavender

This low-maintenance, fragrant plant will bring colour to your garden – and bees love it. It’s native to the Mediterranean, making it naturally drought-tolerant.

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Drought resistant plants
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Echinacea Purpurea

These big, daisy-like flowers don’t take much watering, and they’ll give you beautiful blooms all summer long.

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Drought resistant plants
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Ornamental grass

Varieties like Festuca glauca or Briza media add spiky style to pots and borders. They’re great for ground cover.

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Drought resistant plants
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Salvia

The violet flowers and silvery leaves of salvia provide a wonderful addition to your garden in late summer. It will grow in dry soil without a problem.

FREE water-saving devices

Answer a few questions about how you use water in your home and we’ll send you free water-saving devices in the post

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