What we can do when nature needs a bit of a helping hand? Turning the hose on and giving the garden a good old water is an obvious choice, but if water levels are low overall then we run the risk of depleting supplies even further. Water demands are only getting higher with all the appliances that we run daily that use lots of water, and climate change is causing the supply of water available to decline. So what can we do?
Water conservation is the key and there are a number of actions we can take. Year-round rainwater harvesting is a good option as it makes use of the natural abundance of water from the sky. It is also a better choice than tap water as it doesn't contain chlorine and other chemicals that may exist in treated water. You can also channel water from gutters and pipes that would otherwise go down the drain. Buy a water butt to store your water in and use a watering can to carry the water to the plants that need it.
Grey water is water that has been used for washing and cleaning. This water can also be used for watering plants though it's best to use it straight away rather than storing it. Soil and compost can usually filter out any mild residue of soap and detergent. Make sure you use this water on general plants and not ones that are going to be eaten.
Finally, if water supplies are low then chances are that birds, insects and other wildlife are also struggling for a drink. Consider putting a bird bath in your garden for birds to drink from or wash in. Building a mini pond or even putting a large washing up bowl of water in your garden somewhere can also act as a vital drinking source. Keep an eye on it and make sure it stays topped up as temperatures continue to rise and rainfall levels stay low.
For more information, visit the RHS website to find out how to save and store water.
The Wildlife Trusts website has some good information on how to build a pond.
