Water efficiency in the garden

man with leeks

Use water wisely outside

Use a watering can instead of a hosepipe to give your plants a drink - it's more accurate, placing the water where it does most good. Plus if you water early in the morning or late in the evening less of the water you use will evaporate and more will go to the plant roots.
Plants prefer rainwater to tap water, so the more rainwater you can store in your garden the better. Use a water butt to collect rainfall for watering the garden. A standard water butt can collect approx. 5,000 litres of rainwater per year.
A hosepipe uses around 10 litres of water per minute.
Use a bucket and sponge instead of a hosepipe to wash the car. If you must use a hosepipe fit it with a trigger nozzle so it only runs when you need it.
Don't waste water on paths and patios - if it doesn't grow, don't water it!

...and especially in your garden!

Did you know that outdoor water use accounts for around 7% of the total water use of your home, but in summer when the weather is warmer this can rise to over 50%.

A garden sprinkler uses around 15 litres/min. In just one hour, it gets through almost as much as the average person would use in a week.
Use a brush to clean paths, patios and driveways, not a hose.
Fit insulation to exposed water pipes to prevent them freezing and bursting.
If you can, shut off the supply to your outside tap during the winter and drain it. If there's no water in the pipe, it can't freeze and burst.

Often a new washer is all you need to fix a leaking tap - check your outside tap for drips and replace a worn-out washer.

In case of a burst, make sure everyone in your household knows where the internal stop tap is and that they can turn it on and off. It is usually under the sink, in the hall, bathroom or garage.

Install a water butt. Your roof collects tens of thousands of litres of rainwater every year, which can be collected in the your water butt to give you a ready supply for watering your plants. This is one of the easiest ways to reduce the use of tap water in your garden and plants actually prefer rainwater!