How to Store Water for re-use
Water is essential for our gardens, particularly over the warm Summer months. By collecting water from your home and re-using it on your garden, you can continue to provide your plants with the water they need to grow and flourish. Steer clear of using mains water when you can with these helpful tips.
Why should we collect and store water for re-use
During the Summer our beloved gardens, full of our favourite plants, are more likely to go through dry periods of weather, particularly as our climate changes in the UK. Water shortages are becoming more common and us gardeners can do our bit to help.
Rainwater is better for your plants than the often hard water we get through the mains tap, our plants don’t need perfectly clean water, but they do need regular watering in hot dry weather, particularly newer plants that haven’t had time to establish their roots deep down into the soil.
By collecting your own water, albeit through rainwater, or waste water from your house, you can provide water to your plants at essential times and help ease the shortfall from local water reserves.
How to collect rainwater
Water butts are the best way to collect water from your home, with the typical one storing somewhere between 100 and 200 litres of water. We have a good choice of water butts here at Thompson’s Garden Centre, as well as water butt stands and extra equipment such as connector pipes and downpipe kits.
Water butts are best placed near a downpipe from the roofing or guttering of your house, garage or shed, they are also better placed in a shaded position. The downpipe can be directed into the water butt, but you can still divert any excess water towards a soakaway area of your garden rather than down the drain.
Water butts can also be linked together, so you can maximise your water storage. Place one higher than the other and use connector pipes so that any excess water from one will flow into the other. If you have a tap on both, then you can alternate the usage from each water butt, helping to keep the water from going stale and smelling.
How to use your stored water
Fill up a watering can from the tap at the bottom of your water butt. Try to water the base of the plant rather than a large area, this will help to directly water the plants roots and avoid any wastage. Make sure you water at the start of the day, or when the sun is going down as this will help to avoid evaporation and give the water a chance to soak down to the roots where its needed most.
Using grey water
Grey water is commonly known as domestic wastewater, this can also be used in the garden. Re-using soapy water from the kitchen sink or washing machine is perfectly fine for your plants, as long as it hasn’t got bleach or disinfectant in it. Instead of pouring down the plug hole, fill up a watering can from your washing up bowl and re-use on your plants.
Top Tips
- Clean water butts annually to avoid the build up of disease
- Use the water from a water butt regularly, as fresh water will help to dilute the stored water
- Use collected water in a watering can and water the base of the plant.
- Wash your hands after use.
Water Wisely Drought Tolerant Plants How to Guides