What Plants would you Sacrifice for a Hosepipe Ban?

[4Shoes]

Was out in the polytunnel watering the bush tomatoes. They are dinking water like there was no tomorrow.

Thinking about our NI friends and the Hose Pipe ban, what would be the 1st to go

In my case, of all the plants in the tunnel, they would be the 1st to the compost heap

What would be on your list?

[Cadalot]

Nothing, I will still water but will use watering cans, I have long necked Low Calorie Tonic water bottles that have pin holes in the cap and around the neck these are sunk in the ground and I water at depth so the roots have to go and find the water and not on the surface where it will just evaporate off. I also grow a lot through weed membrane that helps retain moisture in the ground.

[nickdub]

Grass - never bother watering my lawn however dry it gets.

[veggiechicken]

The only hosepipe I use runs off a waterbutt and the only water I use on the garden comes from the waterbutts or pre-used water from the house. Seedlings have the clean water that is saved before the hot water reaches the washing up bowl.
A hose pipe ban wouldn't affect me but I'm sorry for those who need one.

[Chestnut]

I would also still water with a can, assuming that doesn’t get banned too, but will use dregs of waterbutt/recycled water first wherever possible.
I planted some new fruit bushes over winter, so they get a can a week if it’s not rained. Stuff in gh gets watered, as do seedlings/recently planted stuff.
Climbing beans, squashes, tomatoes and celeriac next priority- though the squashes I planted direct into the muck heap seem to need less than those in soil.
Lawn, flowers, established fruit trees /bushes/brambles and herbaceous borders will fend for themselves -or die.... front lawn is brown and crispy already (saves mowing!)

[JanieB]

None. If there's a ban I use grey water. I haven't found a way of saving rain water yet. I'm working on it. I face straight on to a busy road and there's a RoW round the rest of the house which I can't block with a butt.

[4Shoes]

Was just a moment as you go round the plants with watering can and hearing the news on the radio... hose pipe ban NI. I'm just over the water

So was thinking along the lines of who would you throw overboard to save the ship or in my case, save the polytunnel.

General opinion is - No need to think about that I/I'll do A.B.C.


But yes, bathroom Sink and shower waste ripe for grey water "Tap".

[veggiechicken]

If this was a hypothetical question - it would be the lawn. Looks dead now anyway!

[SelkirkAlex]

I wonder if I would fall under a ban? my water is a private supply and comes from a natural spring?

[Bren In Pots]

If this was a hypothetical question - it would be the lawn. Looks dead now anyway!

My lawn is very crispy it makes a crunchy noise when we walk on it.

[veggiechicken]

Grass Krispies..........snap, crackle and pop.

[Jay-ell]

Are we supposed to water?

I mulch which preserves moisture in the soil.

A grass mulch has a massive surface area and in the morning can be quite moist from collecting dew or condensing the morning mist.

[Lardman]

The water butts have been empty here for a while so most of the external annuals are done for anyway, the joys of growing on a sandy hillside.

I've been trying to keep the high value, investment plants alive with watering cans filled from a hose poured into inverted 2lt bottles (things like newly planted trees). I would stop watering the greenhouse, there's always next year but it would really hurt to lose the trees.

[Jay-ell]

Remember that some sites don't have water provided so hosepipes aren't an option.

Hosepipe bans still allow you to fill up your watering can from the hose (but no, you can't walk around with the hose in your can). This encourages more strategic use of water.

OK, it can sometimes be a bit slower to fill a can up when you're standing there waiting - one solution I've seen is a toilet cistern with the ball cock plumbed to the tap. When you've watering with the can the cistern fill up. You come back, pop the can under the outlet and flush, can fills in seconds.

Irrigation drippers and leaky hoses are also usually allowed as they're more targeted.

[veggiechicken]

Have you seen thesei? A watering can on the end of a hose!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06VY7HG...a-438274072249