Be Water Wise this Summer

Getting your watering right is important. Water is a precious resource and supplies are under pressure from issues such as climate change and population increase. Here are some tips on how to be Water Wise this summer:

• Water in the morning or evening only. The cooler temperatures mean that less water will be lost to evaporation. Watering in the morning is best, as evening watering can also attract slugs and snails.
• The more you water your plants, the more water your plants will use. Remember, it’s ok to let them dry out a little between watering and they don’t need to be wet all the time. It’s better to water more, less often, so that the water reaches the deeper into the soil rather than sitting on the surface.

• The bigger the root area, the less water a plant will need. Container plants will need daily watering as they dry out quickly. Border plants draw moisture from a larger area, so need watering only every few days. Mature shrubs and trees should only need watering in extreme drought.
• If the surface of the soil is dry, it does not always mean that the plant needs water. Make sure you push your finger down into the soil to see if it is damp – don’t just touch the surface.

• Rainwater should be your first choice for watering your garden. Tap water is treated for human consumption and contains more minerals than many plants need. Set up a water butt in your garden and leave out watering cans or containers to collect rainwater where possible.
• Don’t use sprinklers to water your lawn. Sprinklers need mains pressure to work and can use as much water in an hour as a family of four people would in two days. Plus, brown patches usually recover as soon as rain returns.

• Mulch your garden in the autumn to protect it in the summer.  Mulch is applied to the soil surface and not only provides frost protection in winter but will also add nutrients to your soil and reduce water loss in the summer.
• Ask your local garden centre for advice. There are many great garden centres in Fareham, and they will be more than happy to advise you on watering, based on the type of soil in your garden, the sort of plants you have and the sort of gardener you are.