Smart Solutions For Your Newly Planted Flowers, Shrubs And Trees
A hosepipe ban can feel like a bit of a nightmare when you’ve lovingly planted up your garden and all you want is to keep everything thriving. But don’t panic. With a few simple tweaks, a bit of planning, and some clever plant care know-how, your garden can still look amazing, even when water’s in short supply.
We’re going to walk you through exactly what to do, whether you’ve just planted up your borders, are growing fruit trees, have baskets bursting with bedding, or are wondering how to stop your lawn from turning into straw. You’ll also find some longer-term water-saving tips, including why now might be the ideal time to invest in a water butt or grow more drought-tolerant plants.
How A Hosepipe Ban May Impact Your Summer Gardening
When a hosepipe ban comes into force, it restricts your ability to use hosepipes or sprinklers to water the garden, wash the car or fill those paddling pools. That’s a big change for summer gardeners, especially when heatwaves or dry spells hit just as your garden is in full swing.
The good news is that most established garden plants are more resilient than you think. With a few changes to your routine, like watering at the right time of day, using watering cans, and focusing on the plants that need it most, you can still enjoy healthy, thriving borders and containers.
Mulching, grouping pots together and using collected rainwater will also help to reduce your reliance on mains water.
What To Do With Freshly Planted Varieties From This Year
Young or freshly planted varieties are the most vulnerable during dry spells. Their roots haven’t yet established deep enough into the soil to find moisture, so they’ll rely on you to keep them going. First off, mulch around the base of each plant with bark, compost, or leaf mould to help lock in existing moisture.
Water these plants deeply with a watering can, every few days rather than little and often. This encourages deeper root growth and better drought tolerance. Prioritise any plants that are wilting, drooping or showing signs of stress, particularly anything planted in the last 6–8 weeks.
And if you’re short on time or water, focus on your highest value plants first, like perennials, shrubs or anything harder to replace.
Bushes And Trees During A Hosepipe Ban
Most mature trees and shrubs will tolerate short dry periods. Their roots are well established and can seek out water deep in the ground. That said, even the toughest plants can suffer in prolonged drought conditions, especially those with shallow root systems like hydrangeas or rhododendrons.
If your larger plants are looking stressed, give them a thorough soak once a week using a watering can. Focus on the base and add a thick mulch to reduce evaporation.
Avoid watering the leaves, as it’s the roots that need it most. And remember, evergreen shrubs tend to cope better than deciduous ones, so you may not need to water everything.
Watering The Beautiful Flowering Roses In Your Garden
Roses are surprisingly tough once established, but younger plants and those in flower will need support during hot, dry weather. If you’re using a watering can, aim for the base of the plant and give it a proper soak every few days, morning or evening is best the time, avoiding the high sun.
Add mulch around the base to keep the roots cool and moist. Deadhead regularly to reduce stress on the plant and encourage more blooms.
If you grow roses in pots, these will dry out faster than those in the ground, so they may need watering more often, again, aim for a good deep soak rather than a splash every day.
Hosepipe Ban And Caring For Fruit Trees
Fruit trees in the ground are generally well adapted to summer dry spells, but those still getting established, especially trees planted within the last two years, will need attention.
The key is consistency. A deep watering with a can once or twice a week is far more effective than daily light watering.
Fruit in development needs moisture to swell properly, so if your apple or pear tree is carrying a heavy crop, don’t let it dry out too much.
Mulch thickly around the base to preserve every drop of water and reduce competition from weeds. Container-grown fruit trees will need more frequent watering, and possibly even moving to a shadier spot temporarily.
Potted and Containerised Plants During A Hosepipe Ban
Always remember, pots dry out faster than beds and borders, so they’re the first to suffer in hot weather. Group them together to create a humid microclimate and reduce water loss through evaporation. If you can, move pots to a shadier spot during the hottest part of the day.
Water early morning or late evening using a watering can and aim for the compost, not the foliage. Using saucers under pots can help trap runoff and reduce waste. Adding our water-retaining Swell Gel at time of planting, or re-potting into larger containers will also help reduce how often they need watering.
What To Do With The Lawn During A Hosepipe Ban
The good news is your lawn will survive. Grass is incredibly resilient and will bounce back even after weeks of looking brown and parched. It might not look its best, but it’s not dying, it’s simply gone dormant.
Avoid mowing too short in dry weather, as this stresses the grass and increases evaporation. Set the blades higher and let the grass grow longer. Don’t bother watering it with a can, save that effort for your more vulnerable plants.
Come autumn, the first rainfall will green everything up again.
Caring For Hanging Baskets During A Hosepipe Ban
Hanging baskets can be a real challenge in hot, dry conditions. They’re exposed to sun and wind on all sides, which means they dry out fast. If you haven’t already, add water-retaining crystals to the compost and line your baskets thickly to reduce loss.
Water early and deeply using a can, allowing water to really soak in, don’t just wet the surface. Try standing them in a bucket of water once or twice a week for a deep soak. Alternatively, consider bringing them down and placing them in a shaded, sheltered spot for a few days to recover.
Caring For Bedding Plants And Annuals During A Hosepipe Ban
Annuals and bedding plants are fast-growing, flower-producing machines, which means they’re thirsty by nature. If you want to keep them blooming during a hosepipe ban, prioritise those in pots, troughs or planters first, as these are the quickest to dry out.
Water deeply and regularly, deadhead faded flowers and add mulch if they’re planted in borders. And if things are looking too stressed, don’t be afraid to give one or two plants up to protect the rest.
Consider Investing In A Water Butt Or Temporary Water Storage Solution
With many heavy downpours happening between dry spells, it makes complete sense to capture as much rainwater as you can.
A water butt is a long-term, money-saving investment that lets you water your garden sustainably, and without breaking any rules. Even a temporary solution like a clean storage bin or barrel can help in a pinch.
Link your water butt to your greenhouse, shed or house downpipe, and you’ll have a good supply for pots, beds and baskets during the dry days. Trust us, it’s worth it.
You can find a range of water butts and other watering equipment on YouGarden here.
The Long-Term Benefits Of Drought Tolerant Plants
One of the smartest ways to futureproof your garden is by choosing drought tolerant plants. These varieties are naturally adapted to cope with dry spells and still look brilliant doing it, from lavender and salvias to grasses and succulents.
They save water, reduce maintenance, and often thrive in poor soils too. Once established, they’re low fuss and high impact. If you want to build a more resilient, climate-smart garden, it’s a great place to start. Browse our full range of drought-resistant plants here.
