BE WATER WISE
Watering the garden can be a time-consuming occupation in the summer, especially if you have a lot of crops in pots or in a greenhouse or polytunnel. Water is a valuable resource and we need to conserve it as much as we can and there are lots of techniques and products out there to help the gardener keep their plots watered in a very efficient way.
Firstly, let’s look at reducing mains water usage and saving rainwater.
SAVING AND CONSERVING WATER
■ WATER BUTTS: If it is possible to install water butts, then take advantage of nature’s plentiful rainfall. You can buy kits to link water butts up so you can have several and be self-sufficient in your water supplies with no need to use a tap. On allotments, if you have a shed or greenhouse, you could collect water or you could create a simple frame with an angled roof to direct water into a butt. To collect a lot of water invest in IBC containers (Intermediate Bulk Containers) and link them up.
■ One tip for collecting water is to take an old dustbin and turn
