Spring is officially here and with the current Covid-19 lockdown situation, now couldn’t be a better time to get out into the garden. After following our guide to preparing your garden for spring, your outdoor space should now be ready, and waiting for a few creative touches.

Whether you plan to upgrade your garden with a set of potted plants, want to fine-tune your beautiful borders with some new additions, or wish to focus on creating a lush green lawn that’s the envy of all your neighbours, water is a key ingredient for fulfilling all of your green-fingered ambitions.

Despite annual UK water bills dropping by £17 this April after years of increases, the average water bill still sets households back £396.60 per year. It is one household expense none of us can avoid, but with some simple changes in the garden you can save water and lower your bills at the same time. Below, we share our top tips for saving water in the garden this spring.

Invest in a water butt

Take advantage of the unpredictable British weather by installing a water butt in your garden. Water butts are simple to fit and you can use the collected rainwater to keep your garden looking great all year round. 

Southern Water explains more about why it makes perfect sense to invest in a water butt, not just for lowering your water bill – but for enhancing the health of your garden and the wider environment:

“Just one water butt can hold enough rainwater to fill a watering can 25 times. Based on the average rainfall in the South East, you could fill your butt up to 450 times a year. All that free water means you can use less tap water, saving you money on your bills.

Rainwater is full of nutrients, so your plants will prefer it to tap water. Plus, the less tap water you use, the less we have to take from rivers, reservoirs and underground sources. So, you’ll be reducing pressure on the environment.”

Make water work harder

When you water your plants can actually help the water you use in your garden go further. As well as reducing water usage, adjusting watering times can boost plant growth leading to a lusher, more beautiful garden.

Water potted plants in the afternoon and the rest of your garden in the early morning before temperatures rise to ensure good water supply and optimum conditions for growing.

As a rule of thumb, avoid watering plants and the wider garden in the evening. Due to lowering temperatures at night, moisture is unlikely to evaporate fully, and will subsequently create a breeding ground for fungus that damages foliage.

Recycle water from your home

Another way to make water go further and reduce water usage in your garden is to harvest water from other daily activities. Water used to steam or boil vegetables can be saved, cooled, and used to water plants instead of being tipped down the sink. This water will be full of nutrients from the vegetables too providing the perfect fertiliser for all plant varieties.

Catching water that would be wasted while waiting for the shower to heat up can also provide enough water for your garden every day.

When you’re working hard in the garden this spring, don’t forget to keep yourself hydrated. Discover the best times to drink water and enjoy day-long hydration whatever you get up to.