SES Water works with the Consumer Council for Water to share 10 tips to save water in your garden during hot weather

SES Water is reminding customers of the simple steps that can be taken in the garden to save water and money.

With the UK set to see more hot weather, it’s important to know how to manage water in your garden and how small changes can make a big difference to your water use.

The garden is the perfect place to cut down usage, helping to save water and reduce bills for customers on a water meter.

Every green fingered household can save lots of water with just a few simple changes and make a real difference to the environment.

• Plant wisely. Think about your planting scheme and introduce hardy varieties which can thrive in dryer environments. This will mean you can rest and enjoy the blooms rather than running around with a watering can all summer.
• Water first and last thing. Watering plants in the morning or evening while it’s still cool ensures they’re able to absorb all the water you’re feeding them.
• Invest in a water butt. Water butts are easy to fit and give you a free and handy way to capture water when it does rain.
• Don’t worry about your lawn. It will bounce back! If it needs mowing, set your lawnmower to cut higher and leave clippings where they fall to act as mulch.
• Reuse water from the home. If you haven't got a water butt full of rainwater, try saving washing up water (as long as it doesn't contain bleach) or bathwater by putting it into buckets and then using it to water your garden.
• Use a watering can. Using your watering can might take a little more time but will ensure you’re only using what your garden really needs.
• Layer up. Adding a layer of mulch on top of soil helps to trap water. Depending on the type you use, it can also add nutrients to soil and stops weeds from growing. The best time to add mulch is in the spring. Just weed your flowerbed or container and add a layer of mulch around the plants.
• Protect plants from the sun. Applying a layer of organic matter (compost, mulch, farmyard manure or bark) will improve water infiltration which will improve living conditions for your plants.
• Soak up excess water. When you’re watering your pots, put an absorbent mat or saucer under them, so they catch the water as it flows through, and therefore really maximises the water it’s getting. The roots will soak up the water left at the bottom!
• Drip trays. Placing trays beneath pots to collect drainage avoids waste from overwatering.

Grace Wood-Lofthouse, Sustainability Manager at SES Water, said: “Gardening can be an important activity for many people and although it can use lots of water, there are plenty of small steps you can take to reduce water consumption.”

Karen Gibbs, Senior Leader for the Environment at the Consumer Council for Water, said: “Using water wisely in the garden allows your plants to thrive, helps protects the environment and can cut your bills.

“As temperatures rise, simple steps like keeping a jug by the sink to reuse water, choosing drought-resistant plants and watering at cooler times can all make a big difference with little effort.”

SES Water is playing its part in making sure the region’s water resources are as healthy as possible heading towards the summer with 25-year plan of investment to secure sufficient and safe supply of water long into the future.

For more information on how you can save water in the garden and in the home, and to view SES Water’s range of free water-saving devices, visit Saving water.