Gardeners can still give their plants a good drink if a hosepipe ban is in place. You may be cautious about giving too much water to your flowers and shrubs but there are ways to be economical with your water use and to not overstep the restrictions.
Recycle household water
Andres Gomez, garden expert at irrigation device supplier Aiper, said: "Gardeners in areas with hosepipe bans can still use their watering cans and should also aim to recycle as much water as possible."
One way you can use your water more than once is to conserve the water you use inside your home. Mr Gomez said: "Save your washing up and bath water and even water from boiling veg or pasta. Wait till it cools and then water your plants deeply."
Watering techniques
You may also want to think about how you structure your watering. The expert said: "Focus on different plants or areas of the garden each day as it's better to water deeply and less often than try and do everything at once."
Another thing you can try to reduce your water usage going forward is to install a smart sprinkler system. Mr Gomez said: "This can be programmed to water precise areas only and at certain times of the day which helps to save water and keep the garden looking its best. It helps to save water in the long term too."
Plan ahead with water butts
Garden expert Alan Titchmarsh recently shared some thoughts about how to plan ahead so you still have plenty of water if a hosepipe ban is in place. He said: "Every home should have water butts. What is in here is free, and you'll notice that whenever you water plants with rainwater, they do seem to grow better."
The gardener explained that he has water butts installed on every downpipe at his home. This way he always builds up supplies when it rains. Mr Titchmarsh said: "If you can store every drop of water possible in your garden, you'll be far less irritated when there is a hosepipe ban."
