How to save water in your garden

There are plenty of ways to take care of your garden and have fun during warm weather without using lots of water.

Gardening advice

Install a water butt

A water butt will collect rainwater that you can use in your garden at a later date – plants prefer rainwater too! On average, 20% of the water stored in a water butt is lost through evaporation, so make sure yours is covered with a lid and try to keep it in a shaded area. See our advice on how to install a water butt.

Pick the right time

During summer, try to water your plants early in the morning or around dusk. The water will be less likely to evaporate and more will reach the roots. Check the weather forecast too. If rain is expected, save yourself some time and money and let nature do the work.

Use a watering can

A watering can uses far less water than a hosepipe and gives you more control. Make sure to water your plants at the root so that they get all the water they need. You can do this by removing the rose attachment, which will help ensure the water goes straight into the soil.

Water for longer but less often

Water the soil near the stem of your plants for longer (between 5 to 10 seconds) but less often. This will encourage the roots to grow deeper, giving them access to water stored underground and making them more resilient to dry conditions.

Collect and reuse water

You can reuse the water from your house in the garden. Collect water from bathing, washing up, cooking and waiting for water to run hot, and then use it on your plants – remember to wait for hot water to cool first.

Leave your lawn

Brown is better. Let your lawn go brown during dry periods. It will spring back to life as soon as we get some rain. Why not try letting your lawn grow a little longer than usual too? This will help it retain moisture while also benefiting wildlife.

Create a drought-tolerant garden

There are several plants and herbs that you could add to your garden which require very little watering, such as lavender, geranium and rosemary. A drought-tolerant garden will require far less water during the summer months.  

Take care of your soil

Use compost and mulch (bark, chip, stone and/or straw) to improve the health of your soil and help it retain moisture. This will make your plants more weather-resistant, meaning you can water them less during dry weather.   

Know your crops

Certain crops will need more water during drier periods (such as celeriac and leafy green vegetables) as their roots don’t go very deep. Some crops (such as potatoes, carrots and parsnips) only need watering once a week.

Outdoor advice

Swimming and paddling pools

You can save water by filling your swimming or paddling pool a little less than usual. Don’t forget to cover it to prevent evaporation and reuse the water in your garden once you're done with it.

Clean your car with a sponge

Ditch the hosepipe and use a bucket and sponge or microfibre mitt to clean your car. Car washing with a hosepipe can use hundreds of litres of water each time. You can take this a step further by using water from your water butt.

Fun in the sun

Children can have fun in the garden when it’s sunny without using lots of water. Consider giving them water guns or sponges instead of using a hosepipe and sprinklers for water fights.