Keep
the garden going by using water wisely this holiday
London, 25 May/GNN/ --
CONSUMER COUNCIL FOR WATER News Release (CCWater 17/07) issued
by The
Government News Network on 25 May 2007
We all want a gorgeous green garden full of colourful blooms to
relax in
when the summer sun is shining.
But the pattern in recent years seems to suggest that prolonged
dry weather
could soon be a regular feature of our summers - making the need
to use
water wisely increasingly important. This doesn't need to be a
chore.
CCWater, the consumer representative has sought advice from
the experts in
this area to provide some simple and reliable gardening tips
to help keep
your garden green this summer, whatever the weather.
Waterwise, a leading authority on water efficiency in the UK
believes the
best investment you can make for your garden is to install a water
butt.
Jacob Tompkins, Director Waterwise, said: "With all the
rain we have had
recently, now is the time to buy a water butt. Used correctly,
with waterwise
gardening, it will provide all the water you need to keep your
garden alive
through the hot summer months. For more information about water
butts see
www.waterwise.org
For anyone who has recently laid new turf, or just wants to
look after
their established lawn the Turf Growers Association has worked
with us to
produce a simple guide to lawn care which is now available on
our website
www.ccwater.org.uk
CCWater's top tips to keep your garden green:
* Save rainwater in a water butt through the year to be used
during times
of drought and use a watering can or drip irrigation system instead
of a
hosepipe as it means you can more effectively water plants which
need it
* After washing the dishes or vegetables, use the water on
the garden
* Water the garden early in the morning or in the evening,
away from the
blaze of the sun
* If you have automatic sprinklers, install a rain shut off
device so you
don't waste water if it rains unexpectedly
* Group plants with the same watering needs together so they
get the most
out of the water you use
* It's ok to let your lawn go brown - it will recover when
it rains again
* Only water plants when necessary as more plants die from
over-watering
than under-watering and over watered lawns get diseases too -
if you are
not sure ask your local garden centre for guidance
* Mulches such as bark, gravel and woodchip can help prevent
water evaporation,
holding moisture in and keeping your soil moist
* Hanging baskets are water hungry: instead, group plants together
in large
containers - 'plant for plant', they use less water
* Take a look at what your local nursery or garden centre has
to offer as
there are a number of plants which thrive in hot dry conditions
* Your lawn can survive for long periods of dry weather if
the grass is not
cut too short
* Plants and shrubs which are watered too often have shallow
roots weakening
the plant, so only water when they show signs of wilting
* Pull up any weeds as soon as they appear, as they can compete
with plants
for vital water
* Fertilizers do promote plant growth, but also increase water
consumption
so just apply the minimum amount needed
* If washing patio furniture, bikes, or pets do so on areas
of lawn which
need water.
Source: Consumer Council for Water
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