Gardening in a drought

TheBanker

So this is a part of the forum I don't visit often! I'm much more at home talking about ISAs

There are threats of drought and hosepipe bans given the recent dry spell. I collect rainwater but my barrell is already almost empty, which I have never known this early in the year.The forecast said we were due some rain yesterday but it did not materialise, and there is none forecast for at least two weeks (although we have a bank holiday coming up which almost guarantees rain in the UK!)

So I am looking at how I can re-use waste water from the house to keep my plants alive. If it makes a difference none of these plants are for eating. I have been using quite a bit of water as an area of my lawn was re-seeded and I have quite a few plants in pots. 

So far I've put a bucket in the shower to catch the water while it's heating up, and the same by the kitchen sink. 

I see some people use washing up water on the garden, but does the washing up liquid and the remains of food harm the plants? Can I use the water from my de-humidifier on the garden? What about tumble-dryer water (not that the tumble dryer is seeing much use at the moment!)?

Are there other 'easy' water sources that I'm missing?

How do the more experienced gardeners cope?

FlorayG

Anything in a pot needs clean water because` residue of detergent can build up, so give those the dehumidifier and shower water. 'Dirty' water should go on garden plants where it will be fine. Particles of human food are plant food!
The best way to utilise your waste water is to put all of it on ONE plant each day and a different plant every day. It's much better for the plant to have a good soaking once a week than a dribble every day.
Don't bother watering the lawn at all - even if it goes completely brown it will recover and if it's brown you won't have to cut it. If the new seeded part dies it's easy enough to re-seed in September

-taff

I second don't bother with the lawn. Also agree with deeply watering one plant at a time, if you try to spread it around you'll be just torturing them with the prmise of water If you can get a bucket or some tubing under your washing machine outlet you can use the rinse water if you really want to go that far. Dehumdifier water and tumble drier water are fine, washing up water is ok on flowers/non edibles, as long as it's not too madly soapy.

Pick which plants you really don't want to do without and water accordingly. And you do have saucers under them don't you?

Think about extra or bigger or inline connected waterbutts. I have a small one set up in the front garden next to the porch run off, if you have a covered pergola, that's a water source, same with a shed.

TheBanker

Thanks, it would be a shame to let the new bit of lawn die (the old lawn's doing fine at the moment) - but I guess less of a sacrifice than plants.

Getting the water from the washing machine sounds like a bit of a pain, although the drain is in the garden so I could possibly do something clever with a bucket if I time it right! 

And yes, I will be getting at least one more water butt, but that won't help me over the next few weeks as no rain is expected. 

Working_Mum

TheBanker said:

Thanks, it would be a shame to let the new bit of lawn die (the old lawn's doing fine at the moment) - but I guess less of a sacrifice than plants.

Getting the water from the washing machine sounds like a bit of a pain, although the drain is in the garden so I could possibly do something clever with a bucket if I time it right! 

And yes, I will be getting at least one more water butt, but that won't help me over the next few weeks as no rain is expected. 

Welcome to this lovely area of the forum TheBanker - we are a gentle lot over here 

You could fill a new water butt with your waste water and draw on it as you need it?? Just make sure you mark the butt to know which water it is!

I move my pots into a shadier part of my patio so they need less water during really hot weather. 

I weed my garden so my plants have less competition for available moisture.

I mulched my garden last autumn and early spring as I read somewhere this help with moisture retention. Time will tell if this approach has worked.

I tend to water my plants in the morning as I don't want to encourage the snails to an all you can eat buffet by watering them  in an evening!

I think we are going to be in for a long hot summer.

Good luck,

((WM))

-taff

What a good idea to move the pots..and they can be mulched too.

TheBanker

Working_Mum said:

TheBanker said:

Thanks, it would be a shame to let the new bit of lawn die (the old lawn's doing fine at the moment) - but I guess less of a sacrifice than plants.

Getting the water from the washing machine sounds like a bit of a pain, although the drain is in the garden so I could possibly do something clever with a bucket if I time it right! 

And yes, I will be getting at least one more water butt, but that won't help me over the next few weeks as no rain is expected. 

Welcome to this lovely area of the forum TheBanker - we are a gentle lot over here 

You could fill a new water butt with your waste water and draw on it as you need it?? Just make sure you mark the butt to know which water it is!

I move my pots into a shadier part of my patio so they need less water during really hot weather. 

I weed my garden so my plants have less competition for available moisture.

I mulched my garden last autumn and early spring as I read somewhere this help with moisture retention. Time will tell if this approach has worked.

I tend to water my plants in the morning as I don't want to encourage the snails to an all you can eat buffet by watering them  in an evening!

I think we are going to be in for a long hot summer.

Good luck,

((WM))

I can't easily move my pots because they're too heavy... but you inspired me to move the patio table and chairs into a line to cast shade onto the plants - we'll see if it makes any difference!

twopenny

I do all the water collection you suggest.
I use washing up water on established plants in the ground. I looked this up years ago.
Tap, shower water etc I put in buckets outside the back door. The chlorine etc evaporates and it's good to go.

To water pots in this weather I put smaller pots in a bucket of water until the bubbles stop.
Large pots I tip water into the pot up to the rim and watch for bubbles. I may have to do this up to 3 times.

Because it's becoming tedious and long I now put the smaller pots in an old washing up bowl (£2) and pour the water over them up to the rim , it runs through and I can tip the water out of the washing up bowl back into the bucket for reuse. It makes it go further.

When planting up large pots or those in sun I put an upturned small water bottle with the bottom cut off and bury it 2/3 way in the compost. Pouring water in there on a regular basis takes it to the middle of the pot around the roots.
Have used bathroom pipe sawn to length with holes drilled in the sides to get water down into really big pots. Not as good as water bottles but better than just top watering.

subjecttocontract

I've heard of people who have installed a couple of large cubic meter water tanks that fill with rain water over winter. When these run out they refill them with a hose pipe and use that on the garden. The secret is to plan ahead and keep your water tanks full before the hose pipe ban comes into effect.

-taff

Yes but that depends on whether or not you have a water meter....

TheBanker

subjecttocontract said:

I've heard of people who have installed a couple of large cubic meter water tanks that fill with rain water over winter. When these run out they refill them with a hose pipe and use that on the garden. The secret is to plan ahead and keep your water tanks full before the hose pipe ban comes into effect.

I'd rather not do that, as I've now realised how much mains water costs (am on a meter, and the cost went up by 20% this year). And much as I have no time for the private water companies, it feels a bit selfish to waste water on my garden if there's a genuine shortage. Since I started collecting water for the garden I have been surprised by how much is wasted waiting for the taps to run hot. 

I am going to get a second water butt. It's probably too late to do much this year, but it will help for next summer I suppose. Actually I might get two - I think I can link one to my existing but and could fit a small one to the shed downpipe. Any good deals at the moment? The water company used to sell them cheap but they don't seem to do that any more.

There is now some rain forecast here. Typically, it's over the Bank Holiday weekend but at least it will be a welcome drink for the plants and a chance to top up my supplies. I am wondering whether it's worth leaving my buckets on the patio to catch some rain. I can't imagine I'll catch much but it all helps I suppose.