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What you can do to save water:
1)
Choose drought tolerant plants!
- there are stunning foliage plants and wonderful flowering performers for
almost every part of the garden, be it sun or shade, chalky soil or clay. A
little knowledge goes a long way
2)
Mulch!
Whether it's wood chippings, gravel
or organic compost, a layer of mulch around the base of plants not only helps to
reduce evaporation but also reduces the presence of weeds - that's intelligent
gardening!
3)
Water intelligently!
If you have to water, do so in the
evening or very early in the morning when plants will have a chance to absorb
moisture before the sun evaporates it.
4)
Design paving areas with care!
Make sure paved areas have planting areas to drain towards - that helps to use
available rain water. Never drain patios or terraces into mains drainage!
5)
Cut out the lawn!
If you feel a slave to the lawn and are fed up with cutting grass, remember
lawns are thirsty (although can recover from periods of drought). There are
alternatives! The other benefit to cutting down on lawn areas is the added
benefit for wildlife. The more flowers and nesting habitats a garden has, the
better it is for wildlife.
6)
Water butts!
Fixed to down pipes or adjacent to greenhouses, rain butts can save precious
rainfall and release it just when you need it most.
7)
Group plants together!
Elegant planters on the patio or at the front of the house can look fantastic.
Choose drought tolerant plants and place handfuls of shingle or similar
stone aggregate at the top of the pots to conserve moisture then group together
to reduce transpiration caused by exposure to wind.
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