Rain, Rain, Come and Stay: Maximising Your Garden's Water Potential
Rainwater, often overlooked and underutilised. But we’ve got a list of why making use of your rain can be good for you and the garden.
1. Sustainable Water Supply: Rainwater harvesting offers a sustainable solution to water scarcity. We’ve all heard of the hosepipe ban, so this is a way to get around it. By collecting rainwater, we reduce our reliance on mains water, which is not only good for your water bill but also better for the environment.
2. Cost-Effective Water Management: Utilising rainwater can significantly lower your water bills. Also the pH of rainwater often is lower, making it great for growing. Not to mention, in many hard water areas, the minerals found in these sources of water can make growing your plants tricky!
Okay, so I’m ready to make a move to rain water, how do I collect it?
In the pursuit of sustainable gardening practices, collecting rainwater is a simple but impactful strategy. By capturing rain water, you can nurture your plants while conserving precious resources. Here's how you can harness the power of rainwater for your garden:
Water Butts or Rain Barrels - using a water butt you can divert the rain which would typically fall on your roof, enter the gutter and then go down into the ground into your water butt. To avoid smelly (water) butts (hehe), you can clean them annual. All you need to do is empty the butt and then scrub it with garden safe disinfectant, and rinse with water.
Mulch, mulch, mulch - mulching your beds will allow rain water to remain in the soil for longer. Without mulch the water hits the surface of the bed and evaporates from the heat of the sun.
See the value in the stuff?! Rain has it’s potential for a brighter and more sustainable future.
