Water Management

Change Impermeable Surfaces

• Permeable Paving: Replace concrete or block paving with permeable alternatives like loose stones, gravel, or grass reinforcement grids.  This allows water to drain through. 

• Green Roofs: Install plants on a roof surface to absorb rainwater, release it slowly, and provide habitat for wildlife. 

• Gravel gardens: Choose to have a gravel garden and this means less watering.  www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/maintain-the-garden/gravel-garden-ideas/ 

Improve your Soil and choose plants wisely

• Mulch: Apply a layer of mulch to keep moisture in and to slow down water runoff.  Mulches help soil keep moisture in summer, prevent weeds from growing, help the soil warm up in spring and protect the roots of plants in winter.  A mulch can be a layer of garden compost, wood chippings, leaf mould or straw.  A mulch can also be slate, pebbles, gravel, stone chippings.   

• Use Plants with deep Roots: Plant vegetation, especially plants with deep or spreading roots, to stabilise soil and absorb water more effectively. 

• Improve Lawn Drainage: Regularly aerate lawns with a garden fork to add air to the soil and improve water drainage.

• Choose plants carefully: Perennial plants can cope better with irregular watering. Choose drought resistant plants.  Right plant; right place! www.rhsplants.co.uk › right-plant

Manage Water - slow it, spread it, sink it.

• Rain Gardens: Create a shallow, planted depression that collects and absorbs runoff from roofs and other impervious surfaces. Direct downspouts into the garden bed, which should have absorbent soil and water-tolerant plants. https://www.wwt.org.uk/discover-wetlands/gardening-for-wetlands/how-to-make-a-rain-garden

 Swales: Dig shallow trenches or channels on contour lines to slow water flow, filter it, and allow it to soak into the ground. 

• Terracing: Build steps or terraces into a slope to break up the steepness, creating level areas where water can soak in rather than run off. 

• Water Butts: Place water butts (rain barrels) under downpipes to collect rainwater for later use and gently let it seep out.  Divert water away from drains, drives and property.

• Soakaways: Build underground pits filled with gravel or plastic crates to collect excess rainwater and allow it to slowly seep into the ground. 

• ‘Grey water’: Use grey water from washing up, or clothes washing, instead of tap water.  This will also save on your water bill.