Looking after our gardens during this summer’s exceptionally hot weather has been a challenge. And with hosepipe bans in place throughout much of the country, it’s difficult to know what to do for the best when your garden is up against it, and water is in short supply.
So I asked a team of gardening experts if there is anything we can be doing to help our gardens survive the high temperatures (while still conserving water) plus what water-saving habits it would have been wise to adopt before this summer’s hot weather hit.
‘Creating a garden that needs less watering starts long before the hosepipe comes out,’ says Peter Chaloner, Managing Director at Cobra. ‘The most effective approach is to build resilience into your lawn and planting scheme from the ground up, rather than reacting when dry weather arrives.’
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So, what water-saving habits do the experts recommend to help make our gardens more drought-tolerant this summer (and in future summers)…find out all below.
1. Harvest rainwater ahead of hot weather
This summer has been exceptionally hot and dry, with much of the country facing drought and hosepipe bans. But if we cast our minds back to the wet and rainy winter months, this is when we really should have been thinking about our summer gardens and conserving the rainwater when it was plentiful, say the experts.
‘Harvesting rainwater is an eco-friendly way of reusing water in the garden, rather than always reaching for the hosepipe,’ says Chris Bonnett, founder of Gardening Express. ‘But filling up your water butt before the hot weather arrives is vital, which means getting a water butt before the rainy season to ensure you’re ready to collect rainwater throughout the wetter months.’
‘Installing a water butt is one of the easiest ways to collect rainwater during the wetter months and build up a reserve before a heatwave strikes,’ agrees Shelley Davis, flower expert at Flying Flowers. ‘Rainwater is actually better for plants than treated tap water because it is free of chemicals and less alkaline, making it ideal for thirsty borders and potted plants.’
‘By tapping into this stored rainwater when dry spells hit, you can keep your garden flourishing without putting extra pressure on the mains supply or worrying about hosepipe bans.’
‘You can also start collecting ‘grey water’ – recycled water from your sink, shower, or washing machine – ahead of hot weather,’ adds Shelley. ‘So long as you use eco-friendly, bleach-free soaps, it’s a brilliant, hose-free way to keep your garden hydrated when temperatures peak.’
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2. Water well, not often
‘When it comes to saving water, the trick is to water well, not often,’ advises Julian Palphramand, Head of Plants at British Garden Centres. ‘A deep soak at the base of the plant first thing in the morning is far more effective than a quick splash in the heat of the day, because it gets moisture down to the roots before it evaporates. And with hosepipe bans in effect, a watering can is best to use.’
‘Watering during the cooler parts of the day, such as early morning or later in the evening, is something everyone should be doing in summer,’ agrees Chris. ‘If you water during the peak heat, most of the moisture will likely evaporate before it reaches the roots, making watering far less efficient. Watering less often but more thoroughly encourages deeper root growth, helping plants become more resilient during hot, dry weather.’
‘Installing a slow-release watering system next to plants and trees is a great way of keeping them hydrated,’ suggests Shelley. ‘Drilling a small hole into the bottom of a bucket or buying a water irrigation system allows water to slowly seep into the soil over hours instead of running straight off the dry top surface.’
3. Water less by planting smarter
‘As our summers become warmer and periods of dry weather become more frequent, choosing the right plants is just as important as how you water them,’ says Charlotte McGrattan, Hardy Nursery Stock Buyer at Hillier Garden Centres. ‘One of the biggest misconceptions is that saving water is simply about watering less. In reality, it’s about planting smarter.’
‘Choosing resilient plants that naturally thrive in drier conditions, such as agave, echinops and eryngium, is a simple way to create a beautiful garden that requires less watering. Once established, drought-tolerant plants like these will need far less watering than traditional bedding schemes, making them a practical choice for increasingly hot UK summers.’
‘If you live in an area that is often generally drier or have a purely south-facing garden, adapting your planting to include more Mediterranean varieties that are more resilient to drought conditions and require less watering during hot weather spells is wise,’ agrees Shelley.
4. Arrange planting strategically to retain moisture
‘Clustering your container plants together is another smart habit to adopt ahead of a heatwave,’ advises Shelley. ‘Potted plants dry out much faster than garden beds, but grouping them tightly creates a cool microclimate where the plants shade one another and trap surrounding moisture. This shared humidity dramatically slows down evaporation from the soil, keeping your pots hydrated longer and saving you from having to water them as frequently when temperatures soar.’
‘How you arrange planting in flower beds and garden borders can also make just as much difference as choice of plants and how often you water them,’ advises Charlotte. ‘Positioning taller shrubs and structural plants to cast light shade over lower-growing varieties helps keep the soil cooler, reduces evaporation and protects plants from the hottest part of the day. Combined with drought-tolerant planting, this creates a garden that’s naturally more resilient, uses less water and continues to thrive through increasingly warm, dry summers.’
5. Let the lawn grow longer to build up resilience
‘Letting your grass grow a bit longer in the weeks leading up to a heatwave is a simple, low-effort way to salvage water,’ says Shelley. ‘Taller grass blades shade the soil beneath them, which slows down evaporation and helps the roots retain previous moisture deep in the ground.’
‘Resisting the urge to mow too short keeps the grass resilient, meaning you won’t need to spend extra water keeping your lawn alive when hot, dry weather hits,’ adds Shelley.
‘The most effective approach is to build resilience into your lawn from the ground up, rather than reacting when dry weather arrives,’ agrees Peter at Cobra. ‘A healthy, well-maintained lawn develops deeper, stronger roots that are naturally better equipped to access moisture below the surface, helping it stay greener for longer during periods of low rainfall.’
‘During hot weather, simple lawn care preventative practices such as keeping mower blades sharp and avoiding cutting the grass too short all help to reduce stress and improve drought tolerance. Leaving the grass slightly longer during warm weather also shades the soil, slowing evaporation and helping retain valuable moisture.’
6. Improve soil health to reduce the need for frequent watering
‘One of the most effective ways to create a water-wise garden is to focus on improving the soil rather than simply watering more,’ says Matt J. Adams, founder and lead gardener at The Relentless Gardener. ‘Healthy soil that’s rich in organic matter, such as well-rotted farmyard manure, acts like a sponge, absorbing rainfall when it arrives and holding onto moisture for much longer. This means plants have access to water over an extended period, reducing the need for frequent watering during dry spells while also encouraging stronger, deeper root systems that are naturally more drought-tolerant.’
‘Adding organic matter to borders every year is one of the simplest changes you can make. Products such as Blooms Booster, from £9.50, The Relentless Gardener, make this easy, feeding plants while improving the soil’s ability to retain moisture due to the 25% liquid seaweed contained within it.’
‘Mulching around plants before hot weather sets in is another great way to help retain moisture in the soil,’ agrees Chris. ‘You can use things like bark, woodchips and straw. These materials help to reduce evaporation and keep the ground from drying out as quickly during periods of heat.’
‘Mulch is worth its weight in gold in hot weather,’ agrees Julian. ‘It helps the soil hold onto moisture for longer and keeps the roots cooler.’
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7. Feed regularly to make plants more resilient
‘Hot weather can affect how efficiently plants absorb and use nutrients, making regular feeding particularly important throughout the summer months,’ says Angharad James, Brand Manager at Maxicrop. ‘When growing vegetable crops and fruiting plants such as tomatoes, they are especially vulnerable, as they require a steady supply of nutrients to support healthy growth and crop production.’
‘Feeds that combine nutrition with natural seaweed extract can help support both plant growth and resilience, like this Maxicrop All Purpose Liquid Vegetable growth stimulant & feed, £13.50 at B&Q, that helps maintain healthy growth and productive harvests, while Maxicrop Tomato Growth Stimulant & Feed, £14.99 at Amazon, provides the additional potash needed to support flowering, fruit development and crop quality. Maintaining a consistent feeding routine can help plants stay healthier and recover more quickly after periods of extreme heat.’
How is your garden faring in the hot weather? Let us know what water-saving tips you swear by.
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