Head Gardeners’ tips
August 2024

Here I’ll try and share a few tips on making your garden water wise!

If you are starting a new garden think about using plants that require as little watering as possible. Many Mediterranean herbs such rosemary, lavender, thyme and sage are well suited to dry soils. Tuberous or bulbous plants are well adapted to surviving dry spells and will store water in specially adapted underground organs. Plants with silvery or hairy leaves are also a good choice for drought tolerant gardens Adding crushed aggregate or mulches to the soil surface can also help to retain moisture whilst still allowing for drainage.

If you find water evaporates or runs off the surface of your soil, look at increasing the moisture retention. If you find it dries out very quickly, try adding organic matter. This could be in the form of leaf mould or maybe mushroom compost. If you find you do need to water, use recycled water where possible. Dish water or catching shower water in a bucket (grey water), can then be used to water the garden without harm. Capturing water is also one of the most sustainable things you can do in your garden. Attach water butts to gutter down pipes of your home or greenhouse.

Water in the early morning or evenings, when the temperatures are cooler and sunlight isn’t going to cause scorching.

If you notice plants in your garden really start to wilt, it’s ok to cut them back. When rain returns and temperatures drop, they’ll soon sprout back. It’s also ok to tolerate the odd brown leaf!

By being conscious about watering and plant choice, we can all make a difference in preserving this precious resource.