Hosepipe bans have almost become a permanent feature of the British summer – alongside sunscreen and ice lollies at the seaside.
Britain has already had one of the driest winters on record, causing the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to issue a warning to gardeners about the likelihood that hosepipe use will be outlawed if the dry spell continues.
The north has seen some standard, British, winter weather – but parts of the south, particularly the south-east, have been unseasonably warm and dry.
And with an early warm spell affecting the UK, many gardeners – and their plants – will be unsure what to do.
Defra’s latest Drought Summit, held on February 20th, brought together some of the key decision makers in the water industry to discuss what action should be taken if the rain refuses to fall and at the start of next month, the Environment Agency is set to publish its latest Drought Prospects Report. This will highlight the areas most likely to be affected.
So if a hosepipe ban is brought in, at least gardeners will be ready for it. And there are a number of things they can do to help protect their plants and lawns against drought conditions.
Top of the list is rain water storage, to make the most of any that does fall. Another is to ensure that soil is well aerated and topped up with compost – which will add much-needed moisture.
MowDIRECT’s extensive range of cultivators are perfect for this. They allow gardeners to prepare for the worst without breaking the bank.
Adviser for the Royal Horticultural Society Guy Barter claimed that drought is one of the major concerns for British gardeners.
