Watering your garden
The best time to water your garden is early morning or in the evening when the weather is cooler.
Avoid watering in the midday sun or when it’s windy as a lot of the water will evaporate.

A watering can is better than a hosepipe for watering your plants, especially one fitted with a rose. It creates smaller droplets, like raindrops, which sink into the ground better. Hosepipes tend
to be too rough and can wash away the soil. Aim the water at the roots not the leaves otherwise the water runs off and evaporates.

If you water plants and shrubs too often their roots will remain shallow, weakening the plant.
Watering plants less frequently, but deeply and thoroughly, helps to develop healthy, deep root systems, as well as making best use of the water you give them.

To stop water dripping away from a hanging basket, cut the bottom off an empty plastic bottle, leaving the cap on, make a few small holes in the side and put it in the basket upside down. Simply fill this container every time you water. It will spread water more evenly and you won’t spill water all over the floor.

Try grouping plants according to their water requirements and this will limit the area you need
to cover when watering.

"Collect rainwater in a water-butt and use a watering can instead of a hose."

Maintaining your lawn
Don't water your lawn too often. Over-watering can weaken your lawn by encouraging roots to seek the surface.

Lawns can survive long periods of dry weather if the grass is not cut too short.

Set your mower blades higher when you’re mowing in dry conditions - this lessens the likelihood of the freshly cut grass scorching from direct sunlight.

Leave the grass box off when mowing in summer - the cuttings left on the grass will protect the lawn.

Design your garden with hedges, trellises and trees. These naturally shady spots provide valuable protection from the sun for your plants and lawns.

"Sprinklers can be wasteful. A sprinkler can use as much water in an hour as a family of four will use in a day."

Preparing your plants and soil for efficient water use
Avoid digging or hoeing open ground, which allows moisture to escape. A good dig early in the season will be enough, especially if you dig in good organic material, compost, manure or leaf mould at the same time.

Mulches such as wood chips, bark and gravel help to prevent water evaporation.

When choosing plants, consider drought resistant varieties which need less water. Border plants such as sage, ice plant and thyme and shrubs such as lavender, rosemary and yucca all need less water.

For vegetables, get new plants off to a good start with a thorough watering while they are still in their pots or boxes. Plant them when they are well established.

Level off flower beds after planting to prevent water run-off.

Dig a little ‘moat’ around trees and shrubs to collect water.

Use water storing granules in garden and indoor plant pots and tubs - most garden centres will
stock them.

"Put a saucer under plant pots to prevent water from running away."

Recycling water
A good way to recycle water is to use dish water on your garden. This type of water is actually good for guarding against aphids (greenfly, blackfly and plant lice).

A water butt in the garden can collect rainwater that can be used on your plants and lawn. They can be stand-alone or easily plumbed into your existing guttering and down pipes.

Water indoor plants with the remains of unwanted glasses of water.

If you have a disused borehole or well get a pump and tap installed and use it for your outside watering needs. This saves treated water for essential use and could save you money if you have a water meter fitted.

Don’t forget
If you use a hand-held hosepipe and are not on a water meter you need to pay an annual hose pipe charge.

If you use a water sprinkler or if you have a swimming pool (including the temporary above ground variety), you are required to have a water meter installed.

For further information, please contact the Customer Accounts department on 707301.

Why use water wisely?
It is possible to have a colourful and productive garden without using large amount of mains water and this leaflet has plenty of handy hints to help you use water wisely.

Water is becoming more precious than ever. Increases in population, changing lifestyles, pollution and shifts in weather patterns all place increasing demands on the fresh water that we have at our disposal. In Jersey, an island with limited underground reserves of water and no links to external water networks, we rely on rainfall for most of the mains water supplied.

You too can do your bit to reduce the amount of water that is wasted, whether it is in the home, the garden, at work or at school - many of the changes in routine are small and will hardly be noticed. There are lots of simple things we can all do, from turning off the tap whilst brushing your teeth to making sure you run washing machines and dishwashers with a full load.

Together they add up to significant overall savings.