Despite recent heavy rain, the UK's water reserves remain low after a spell of hot and dry weather.
Last week, temperatures soared as the nation entered heatwave territory, with fears the warm weather will remain throughout July and August.
Scotland is facing a growing threat of water shortages which will only worsen if hot and dry weather continues, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) has warned.
Every region of the country has been put on a water scarcity alert by Sepa, and the body has forecast that 28 out of 83 areas will be put on the highest warning level by the end of June if there is no recovery of river levels.
With that in mind, gardeners may be wondering how to keep their plants, flowers and lawns alive while saving on water during these hot months.
Nat White, Head of Brand Communications from Rated People said: “This summer has been a particularly hot one in the UK, and we’ve seen extended periods of hot weather and little rainfall. It’s no surprise that we’re being asked to decrease our water usage and steer clear of using hosepipes in gardens.
"Although this may be daunting to those who take pride in their gardens, we’ve put together our top tips to make sure your garden and plants are still well cared for from the very beginning of the ban.”
- Use a watering can to water plants. You can control the flow of water more easily than you can with a hosepipe and it’s still legal during a hosepipe ban.
- Water when the outside temperature is at its coolest . Water early morning or in the evening when the outdoor temperature is at its lowest. Less water will evaporate, meaning less water will be wasted.
- Use greywater. Greywater is household wastewater like water from your shower, sink or leftover boiling water. Collect this to use in your garden. Water that you’ve used to boil vegetables can contain minerals so it can be great for your plants - just remember to let it cool down first to avoid damaging them.
- Consider getting a drip or trickle irrigation system. These systems are exempt from hosepipe bans because they are efficient in distributing water. They need to be fitted with a pressure-reducing valve and a timer and they can’t be handheld. The timer controls how long your system is on and shuts it off automatically and the pressure-reducing value prevents spikes in water pressure which can lead to a flood. Ensure your system releases water drip by drip onto or beneath your soil, so you don’t see any water running off the surface or travelling through the air by jet or mist.
- Conserve moisture that’s already in the ground. Lay mulch-like bark chippings over the soil to help reduce water evaporation. Doing this can also make your drip irrigation system more efficient.
Get the latest celebrity gossip and telly news sent straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily Showbiz newsletter here.
