Saving water in the garden can help:
- reduce your water bills
- cut the risk of drought orders and water restrictions
- help protect wildlife
Installing a water butt
Thousands of litres of rainwater fall on the average roof every year. Collecting this water and using it on your garden is better for your lawn and plants, as well as being better for the environment.
Putting a water butt in your garden is easy and doesn't have to cost a lot. Ask Jersey Water or your local garden centre for advice.
If you want to collect more water than can be stored in 1 butt, you can buy a connector kit to link up 2 or more together.
Be careful when watering your plants
When you are watering your plants there are many things you can do to make better use of water in your garden:
- use a watering can instead of a hose
- if you do use a hose, use a trigger to control the flow
- use a watering roses (the watering can attachment that helps diffuse the water)
- watering early in the morning or late at night means water doesn't evaporate in the heat of the day before it can reach the roots
- leave plants and shrubs dry until they show signs of wilting – watering too often can keep roots shallow and weaken plants
- weed regularly to make sure that you are watering your plants and not the weeds
- prioritise young plants and seedlings - more established plants will survive longer periods without water
Reduce the amount of water you use on your lawn
Lawns are usually the thirstiest part of a garden. There are easy steps you can take to reduce the amount of water your lawn needs:
- let the grass grow longer in dry spells to help keep moisture in the soil
- try not to use a sprinkler. If you do, and you're on mains water, contact Jersey Water about the usage charge
- infrequent soaks will be more effective than frequent sprinkling as they will encourage roots to search for water deeper in the ground
- even if your lawn goes brown in dry weather, it doesn’t mean it has died – it will usually recover when the rain returns
- if you’re reseeding your lawn, choose grass varieties that are better suited to dry conditions, like fescue grass or smooth-stalked meadow
Make use of greywater in the garden
Any greywater from your home can be used in the garden. Greywater can be collected from
- washing up
- washing the windows
- washing the car
- bath, shower or laundry but not the toilet
There are a few precautions you should take when using greywater in the garden, including:
- making sure it is cool before you use it
- avoiding pouring it straight on to foliage
- using greywater from baths / showers on non-edible plants only
Plan a water-efficient garden
As the climate changes, so will the plants that do well in your garden. Some traditional plants may struggle with less water.
You can keep your garden looking good by:
- choosing drought-tolerant plants that need less water
- making your own compost from kitchen waste to retain moisture and nutrients
- planting new shrubs and trees with a covering of plastic, which helps to retain moisture and control weeds
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