Dry spell

With summers getting longer and drier, it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep our gardens looking verdant. Rising water prices and the threat of hosepipe bans can make watering the garden feel like a luxury. Thankfully, there are a number of ways to conserve rainwater to help your garden thrive through the warmer months.

Not only is recycling rainwater cheaper and more environmentally friendly than using water from the tap, it is also better for your plants. ‘Using rainwater for plants eases demand for mains water, it is freely supplied, and has zero footprint for treatment and distribution,’ explains Dr Mark Gush, head of environmental horticulture at the RHS. ‘Furthermore, rainwater