I've trialled using grass clippings on all my tubs and borders to mulch plants. It definitely helps water retention as when the grass dries out rapidly in this weather it turns to straw and reflects a lot of the heat and retains the moisture (also when it dries out properly it stops it getting sodden and thick like on the grass clippings pile so will allow air in) . My spuds have needed half the watering with a thick mulch. Also it allows the water to slowly trickle into soil instead of quickly washing it all away. At the end of the season it'll break down into the soil.
Would have hoped we're a long way off a hosepipe ban. The drought started much earlier last year (March, aside 2 wet days in early April) and this winter was much wetter than the last one.
A few places in the UK have hosepipe bans, some carried over from last year, some enforced this Spring.
Changed up my planting this year, now replacing with drought tolerant only. Fortunate to have a stream behind the fence at the bottom of the garden but it’s a hell of a job to keep going back and forth!
Changed up my planting this year, now replacing with drought tolerant only. Fortunate to have a stream behind the fence at the bottom of the garden but it’s a hell of a job to keep going back and forth!
Bosch make a battery powered water butt pump, it's not cheap though.
Same here, hottest driest SE corner, The South Downs often keep the rain from our village,and it's a wind tunnel as well....downs and sea. I can't change the planting we already have. It's a bungalow,we did look at a pump,but the window is high up, small and the bathroom backs onto a conservatory. It would be difficult. We put a bucket in the bath while showering, washing hair,6 water butts, one by the veg plot still full. It was 25c yesterday,and with the wind,pond with fish is evaporating
I got rid of thirsty plants except a Fothergilla and a Viburnum Molly Schroeder. Like you, this year l have started the watering earlier to avoid the plant stress. I have buckets in the kitchen (it's amazing how much water I use to clean a salad!) not a drop is wasted. I will start using sponges at the bottom of pots, I think it was @B3 who suggested it in another thread. No rain here for another week and what is promised next Sunday doesn't look substantial.
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Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
No rain here for another week and what is promised next Sunday doesn't look substantial.
Luxembourg
I ♥ my garden.