DOs & DON'Ts | Caring for a garden during a hosepipe ban

Given that we experienced the warmest spring for mean temperature AND the sunniest spring on record, the dreaded notification from water suppliers that “due to the prolonged dry weather, a hosepipe ban is starting” comes as no surprise. With four water companies having already announced hosepipe bans so far this summer, it may be the case that others will follow suit at some point but hopefully not.

When caring for gardens, especially new planting and fish, water is essential. So how can we ensure that plants and gardens still receive the necessary watering requirements while adhering to the rigorous rules set by water companies.

Well, here’s a start.

Firstly, irrigation during a hosepipe ban.

Irrigation can still be used in gardens providing; a) water is being delivered directly onto or beneath the soil surface, b) it is pressure compensated and c) the irrigation is controlled by a timer. This means that drip line systems and those with pressure compensated drippers comply and are exactly what’s needed to care for plants during a hosepipe ban.

What about new planting?

Confusingly, there are exceptions for newly laid turf, sown lawns and new planting. Anything you (a Landscape Professional) have planted, laid or sown, can be watered using a hosepipe or sprinkler system for the first 28 days, even during a hosepipe ban. This means that, for example, our unique Garden Rain Irrigation (pictured at the top) would be ideal for establishing new lawns and planting in that crucial first month

Top tips for saving water

• Mulch over drip line to help retain moisture
• Set timers to water overnight to reduce evaporation
• Weed around key planting to remove competition for water
• Soak root balls before planting to minimise planting stress

Pools, Ponds and Fish

Luckily this is more straightforward. If you have fish or other aquatic animals in a pool or pond, you can use a hosepipe to fill or maintain this. Now things get slightly more complex with ornamental fountains and swimming pools. You can only fill or maintain an ornamental pond if, a) it is in or near a fishpond and necessary to oxygenate the water to keep the fish healthy or b) its use has religious significance. Regarding swimming pools, these can be filled to complete the construction but use of a hosepipe is not allowed for maintenance or further filling. 

Swimming ponds and natural pools undoubtedly contain aquatic animals and therefore will be exempt from the hosepipe ban.

It’s more important than ever to be aware of water usage, especially with our love for gardens and how crucial this topic is to our industry as a whole. I hope you've found this useful; as always, our team is happy to help with any questions or technical advice, ensuring that your specified irrigation system will fall within the parameters set out during the current (and future!) hosepipe ban.