Press releases

Grow without the flow - the RHS advises how to conserve water use in the garden

As the UK's largest water company announces a hosepipe ban and other water companies are threatening water meters and standpipes, gardening charity The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) shows how with a little preparation the garden does not have to be a burden on dwindling water supplies.

“Gardeners and the horticultural industry are bracing themselves for the almost inevitable drought this summer,” said Leigh Hunt, RHS Horticultural Advisor. “Most gardens are vulnerable to some extent, but we would encourage gardeners to use water responsibly and plan ahead in the coming months. There are a huge number of drought-resistant plants, which can thrive in the UK, and measures that can be taken to limit water use in the garden.”

Leigh Hunt suggests the following tips to make sure you are well prepared for the summer:

• Buy and plant new plants as soon as possible so they get the best chance of growing roots before dry weather begins.

• Feed lawns and other plants with fertiliser, this will give them the resources to grow new roots and make the best use of the water in the soil.

• Invest in more water butts if you have space. There may be enough rain to fill them between now and summer, and a summer storm will usefully top them up.

• Plan to limit numbers of hanging baskets and small containers unless you can keep them in shady spots. Larger containers are easier to keep watered and ‘plant for plant’ use less water.

• Invest time in eliminating weeds as soon as they show themselves in spring - weeds suck valuable moisture out of the soil.

• Don’t do any digging after March as disturbing the soil leads to increased loss of soil moisture.

• Mulching has some effect in reducing moisture loss from the soil, but more importantly controls annual weeds and reduces the need for hoeing, which disturbs soil (see above).

• Choose vegetables that will cope better with lack of water. French beans, beetroot, chard and carrots are fairly drought resistant, and sweetcorn and pumpkins can get by with no watering at all.

• Traditional bedding plants such as begonias and fuchsias can require a lot of watering. Tender geraniums (officially called pelargoniums) and petunias do better in dry conditions. Buy plants not yet in flower - once flowering begins root growth is sacrificed to flower production and without watering plants will wither.

• Include more drought-tolerant plants in your planting schemes. Mediterranean-style plants such as lavender, rock rose, and certain Euphorbia can survive without artificial irrigation.

• Lawns are very water dependent; accept that established lawns will develop dry patches during a drought. If a new lawn is essential sow and turf it as soon as possible so it establishes before hot, dry weather strikes. Without sprinklers it will be hard to keep alive lawns that are laid in June.

The RHS also advises that you recycle water where appropriate. “Many people want to know if you can use waste water on the garden and the answer is in theory ‘yes’,” said Hunt. “You can use washing-up and bath water if practical and make sure activities like washing vegetables and salad leaves are done in a bowl, so that that water can go on the garden too.”

For further advice about water visit www.rhs.org.uk and follow the link from the home page.

Notes to Editors

For more information contact Leah Colthorpe in the RHS Press Office on 020 7821 3046 or e-mail leahcolthorpe@rhs.org.uk

Leigh Hunt and other RHS Horticultural Advisors are available for interview and comment, Please contact the press office (details above) to arrange.

RHS Garden Hyde Hall in Essex is located in one of the driest areas of the UK. The team at Hyde Hall has developed the Dry Garden, which is designed and planted to demonstrate how a garden can be created without the need for artificial irrigation. The Dry Garden is now in its fifth year and it continues to wow garden visitors and the horticultural industry as a shining example of sustainable gardening.

All RHS gardens including Harlow Carr in North Yorkshire, Rosemoor in Devon, and Wisley in Surrey practice ‘low intervention’ gardening techniques, in particular with regard to wise water management. For more information please contact the RHS Press Office, details above.

Many show gardens at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show (24-27 May) incorporate drought-tolerant plants and examples of water-saving measures. All tickets for the show must be booked in advance on 0870 906 3781 or online

www.rhs.org.uk/pressoffice

The RHS is the UK’s leading gardening charity dedicated to advancing horticulture and promoting good gardening. RHS work includes providing expert advice and information, advancing horticulture, training the next generation of gardeners, helping school children learn about plants, and conducting research into plants, pests and environmental issues affecting gardeners.

An interest in gardening is all you need to enjoy being a member of the RHS. For more information visit www.rhs.org.uk or call 0845 130 4646.

Founded in 1804, the Royal Horticultural Society is Britain's largest gardening charity and is committed to being the leading organisation demonstrating excellence in horticulture and promoting gardening. Renowned for its outstanding gardens and inspirational flower shows, the RHS is a key source of advice and information for all gardeners. It encourages gardening through its publications, trials, lectures, education programmes and scientific research and is home to the Lindley Library, which contains the most comprehensive collection of horticultural books in the world.

Membership of the Royal Horticultural Society offers many exclusive benefits including a monthly copy of The Garden magazine; free entrance to RHS Gardens Wisley in Surrey, Rosemoor in Devon, Hyde Hall in Essex and Harlow Carr in North Yorkshire; free access to a further 88 beautiful gardens across Britain and 20 gardens in Belgium and France; access to seeds collected at RHS gardens; free gardening advice and privileged tickets to 18 RHS flower shows, including the Chelsea Flower Show, the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show and the RHS Flower Show at Tatton Park.

For further enquiries about membership of the RHS contact: Membership Department, Royal Horticultural Society, PO Box 313, London SW1P 2PE; 0845 130 4646 Monday - Friday 9.30am - 5pm or via the RHS website

For more information e-mail the Press Office or visit the online Press Office