It is getting to the stage where l think l may have to make some tough decisions , which plants do l keep watered and which ones have to go to the wall. The plants along the edges of the beds are suffering the most as the cracks are appearing. If a hosepipe ban does come in, then l think most of them will just have to fry while l concentrate on the more precious ones.
We don’t have a hosepipe ban but have received an email and a text from United utilities requesting people not to use hosepipes or sprinklers and to not have baths but showers instead. As I understand it, there isn’t a water shortage but it’s a distribution problem.
Life's tragedy is that we get old too soon and wise too late.
We go away for a week next weekend. Unless there is rain I very much doubt my runner beans will survive. I did fill the trench with grass cuttings before planting them and will absolutely soak the ground before we go, then keep my fingers crossed.
The annoying thing is that gardeners may be part of the problem but when we have a sudden summer storm it will be the well watered gardens that help prevent much of the runnoff and flooding. Maintained gardens are also a lifeline for wildlife in this weather too, even a sprinkler system on grass brings worms up for the birds. Fair enough to ban car washing and wasteful uses but they need to get some perspective especially when there isn't actually a shortage of water.
If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
"They need to get some perspective especially when there isn't actually a shortage of water. "
There might not be a water shortage now, but if this weather carries on to Sept there surely will be big problems. It behoves them to ration now before everything gets too tight. I'd much rather them not take more from rivers.
Some of my newly planted perennials are going to the wall. I really hope my newly planted crab apples make it.
Only big problems if people keep wasting water. My yearly water bill shows that we consistantly use under 90litres/person/day of tap water which is regarded as a high level of sustainability for household use. Current building regs tries to restrict tap water use to 125litre/person/day not including outdoor use but the average use is more like 150. Even at minimum levels that should give us 70 litres that we can spray about with the hose every day if needed without causing any harm.
If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
I remember a few years back when we had a hosepipe ban in Hampshire: golf courses are exempt!!!!!! My garden was parched and they were pumping out millions of gallons just so some of the dullest folk in the world had green grass whilst knocking balls into holes with sticks.
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My garden was parched and they were pumping out millions of gallons just so some of the dullest folk in the world had green grass whilst knocking balls into holes with sticks.