We were lucky and got some decent steady rain yesterday evening and overnight. The four butts are all full, half an inch in the gauge and in the trugs and trays that I left out, so no need to set up a bathwater collection system just yet.
I have a couple of buckets in the kitchen for fruit/veg-washing water and what comes through the hot tap before it gets hot, which is plenty for the houseplants, and the hanging baskets if I can't leave my drip irrigation on when the ban starts. Some water companies say that drip irrigation with a pressure-reducing valve and timer is allowed during a hosepipe ban, but Yorkshire only mentions it in the context of public (eg council) floral displays on the business page of their website, not on the page for domestic customers. I'll maybe send in a query once the ban actually starts.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
Hosepipe ban for us in Thames Valley region starts next week. I have seen street washing being done today morning in the city roads. Should that also be banned?
Oxford. The City of Dreaming Spires.
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils (roses). Taking a bit of liberty with Wordsworth
Fortunately no TUB (hosepipe ban) planned but still no rain here. Now 10 months of drier than normal conditions and 4 months since we last had anything beyond (literally) a few spots.
Mature trees and hedges are dying in this area. Bad news in prime arable crop country 😢
Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
I wouldn't mind so much @GardenerSuze but the weather map keeps showing great big blue areas over us indicating we can expect rain and building hopes. But no - we've not had a drop.
A rain dance would be much appreciated!
Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
Here, the darker blue on the Met office weather maps seems to mean "there might be a drop or two but don't hold your breath". It needs to be light blue or green at least before I expect any useful rain (or the turquoise colour on their new combined observation/forecast map, which I like but I wish it would remember my settings and location).
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
I've been putting all our shower water on the border for the last 5 days, I guess 50-70ltrs a time. Dug a plant up today and it's bone dry still! It's helping, plants look fine, but it's certainly dry under there.
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Mature trees and hedges are dying in this area. Bad news in prime arable crop country 😢
A rain dance would be much appreciated!
Dug a plant up today and it's bone dry still!
It's helping, plants look fine, but it's certainly dry under there.