To coincide with National Allotments Week this week (12 August), South East Water has dug out some top tips for water savvy gardeners to keep their allotments and gardens thriving.

Lee Dance, Head of Water Resources at South East Water, said: “Water is a limited and valuable resource, but is also essential for plants and gardens. There are lots of ways we can all use water more wisely in our gardens and allotments this summer which will help us to save water and keep costs down.

“Collecting rainwater in a water butt is an easy and effective way to ensure plants and vegetables have all the water they need all year round. In fact, plants prefer rainwater to tap water. One water butt holds enough rainwater to fill a watering can 25 times and rainfall in the South East can fill each butt up to 450 times a year.”

Di Appleyard from the National Allotment Society said: “Harvesting rainwater from sheds, polytunnels and greenhouses helps to conserve a precious resource and saves money.”

Other top water-saving tips for those tending allotments and gardens during National Allotments Week include:

• Mulch with bark chippings or gravel – it reduces the need to water and reduces annual weed growth
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• Try to choose plants that thrive in dry conditions.
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• Move containers, hanging baskets and pots into shady areas where possible
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• Water the soil not the plant, using a watering can at the base of the plant
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• Water early in the morning or in the cool of the evening. If you water when it’s hot, most will be lost by evaporation.

Free water-saving gadgets for gardeners are available from South East Water here.

Pictured: One water butt can hold enough rainwater to fill a watering can 25 times