Why collect water in the summer

With talk of heatwaves and hose pipe bans recently hitting the headlines, conserving water this summer is once again a hot topic. Collecting water in the garden however isn’t just a summer thing. By learning how to collect and store water now you can look forward to a more cost effective and efficient way to water the plants in your garden and greenhouse all year round.

In this blog post, we reveal more about the benefits of collecting rainwater, and the handy tips to help you collect and store water just in time for summer.

The benefits of collecting rainwater

Rainwater harvesting is the process of collecting rainwater for use in the garden and during other activities like washing the car or cleaning the windows. An activity traditionally started during the cooler, damper autumn and winter months, you can begin your rainwater harvesting project at any time of the year (including summer) to realise some excellent benefits.

Collecting rainwater can save you money on your water bills, reduce demand on local mains supply, and provide an easy, affordable way to take care of your garden when rain and/or water are scarce.

By using rainwater instead of mains water, you’ll also be helping the planet with less energy, treatment and resources needing to be used. Rainwater is better for your plants too. Its lower pH level is more suitable for plant life and offers nutrients that aid growth.

How to collect and store water

It’s easy to collect rainwater in your garden. Soakaways can be installed rather affordably on the gutters and downpipes that service your home, garage, greenhouse or other garden structures. Soakaways direct rainwater away from the drain and into a water butt for storage.

Water butts can also be used on their own for collection. It is important to keep water fresh and clean to prevent the spread of plant diseases. Purchasing more than one water butt and rotating their use is recommended.

Don’t forget your grey water!

It’s not just rainwater that can be collected and stored for use in the garden or greenhouse. Domestic wastewater or ‘grey water’ can be conserved for later use. Waste water from the kitchen, washing machine, bath, basin or shower can be collected and stored as long as it doesn’t contain bleach, disinfectant, dishwasher salt or other strong cleaning products.

For more gardening tips and support, find a local gardening expert today.