The UK is set for another heatwave this week with temperatures rising to 35C in some parts.
With the Met Office issuing the first-ever red warning for exceptional heat, temporary restrictions are being put in place to save water as fire crews warn of wildfires.
If you’re an avid gardener with a luscious-looking lawn, the prospect of a drought can be daunting - especially with the nation’s lawns and flowerbeds becoming increasingly thirsty and the hosepipe ban coming into effect across large swathes of England.
So, if your plants are already looking limp and your grass looks more like straw, what can you do to protect your garden without breaking the rules?
1. Check your watering regulations
Whilst Southern Water and Welsh Water have already put the hosepipe ban in place, Severn Trent Water and Yorkshire Water are still monitoring the situation, whereas Thames Water plans to introduce a hosepipe ban in the coming weeks.
Each water provider follows its own set of rules, so it’s best to double-check yours before taking any steps.
2. Alternate way to collect and store water
Opt for alternate and sustainable ways to collect and store water. Water butts catch rainwater from drains, so get them to work as soon as you can to save water.
Toolstation has revealed that searches for water butts have risen by 67% compared to the same time the week before as the public look for alternate ways to water their plants and lawns.
3. Use ‘greywater’
Greywater is household wastewater like water from your shower, bath, sink or leftover boiling water. Collect this water to use in your garden. As long as it doesn’t contain bleach or any strong chemical cleaning product, it is good to water your wilting plants.
Nat White, Head of Brand Communications from Rated People said: “Water that you’ve used to boil vegetables can contain minerals so it can be great for your plants - just remember to let it cool down first to avoid damaging them.”
4. Use a watering can
Using a watering can instead of a hosepipe or sprinkler can help reduce water wastage. You can control the flow of the water and pour directly at the base of the plant to avoid wastage.
A spokesperson from Toolstation said: “Searches for watering cans, which can be used in a hosepipe ban, have shot up by 106% compared to the same time as last year as people are swapping hosepipes for watering cans and water butts.”
5. Avoid over fertilising
Carlos Real, Lawn Care Expert and Managing Director of TotalLawn said: “Applying fertiliser encourages your lawn to grow, which will require more water and nutrients as it does. Fertiliser can burn your lawn in the warm weather too if it isn’t properly watered, so it’s best to save the feed and fertiliser until the drought has disappeared.”
You can use a liquid feed instead of granular feed during hot months, as the grass needs more potassium than nitrogen in hot weather.
6. Mower maintenance
Even with the best lawn care and prep methods available, your lawn will still be unruly unless you give it a quality cut. Experts at Hayter Mowers suggest watering your lawn early in the day and cutting your grass slightly higher (3-4 inches) than usual.
A higher cut will help your grass retain water and encourage deeper root growth while giving you those well-defined lawn stripes that every garden owner strives for.
Mark Sait, CEO and founder of SaveMoneyCutCarbon said: “The average hosepipe uses 170 litres of water for every 10 minutes that it is turned on. That's almost 19 flushes of a toilet in just 10 minutes.”
“Lack of water will affect almost a quarter of the entire population by 2025. It has already had a disastrous impact on our ecosystems including billions of people, plants and animals. People need to use energy more wisely to reduce the amount of fuel needed in future.”
