UK Gardeners Urged To Do 1 Task During This Week's Rainfall

Water on plantsFirst came the endless heatwaves, and now stormy weather is hitting parts of the country. The Met Office has placed flood alerts across multiple parts of the UK as well as thunderstorm warnings because of “heavy” rain.But where does this leave gardeners, millions of whom have just been told to lay down their hosepipe during four droughts? Well, obviously the rain water is helpful in and of itself (especially for those depressing yellow patches of grass). With heatwaves only predicted to increase in the UK and high temps expected in parts of the southeast this weekend, though, a smart gardener might want to collect the rainwater for future use – for multiple reasons. Heavy rain has been slowly moving across Northern Ireland, southeast England and Scotland this morning 🌧️Here's the latest radar 👇 pic.twitter.com/TFYotFySqZ— Met Office (@metoffice) July 21, 2025Collecting rainwater is a seriously smart gardening moveThe Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) says that rainwater is better for your garden than regular water, not least because “The minerals that are sometimes found in mains water, especially in hard water areas, can raise the pH of your root zone, which can affect the nutrient availability”. Because rainwater is slightly acidic, your plants find it easier to access the good stuff present in the liquid. That’s not to mention the fact that rainwater is “dirtier,” which is actually a good thing. The Ecological Landscape Alliance (ELA) reckons that a little grime in your water works “like a light application of fertiliser every time you water”.Speaking of “fertiliser,” most forms of nitrogen, which is crucial for soil and plant health, aren’t easily absorbed by greenery.But nitrates found in rain are incredibly easy for your flowers and veggies to process.That’s not to mention that reusing rainwater is friendlier to the environment.Even in dry areas, the RHS says, you can expect to collect 24,000 litres (or 150 water butts) from your roof each year.How can I collect rainwater in my garden?Water butts, or large rainwater containers which can be available from DIY stores and even your local council, are great options.They redirect water from your roof via your down pipe and empty it into a large container.“We know that many parts of the country are increasingly short of water, so saving your own helps everyone,” former Agriculture and Food Minister Jim Paice said. If that’s not possible, the RHS recommends adding mulch around new plants to keep the existing moisture in your soil longer and putting drip plays beneath your potted plants. More powerful, but also pricier, rainwater harvesting systems can also be installed; these use filters to clean the water and can include pumps for easier and more powerful hosing. Because yep; hosepipe bans do not apply to recycled water sources, including grey water and old rainwater. Related...UK Gardeners Urged To Take An Electric Toothbrush To Their Tomato PlantsMillions Of UK Gardeners Warned To Stop Using This Watering Technique By FridayUK Gardeners Urged To Pee In Watering Cans For 2 Surprising Benefits

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