Hot, dry summer weather can quickly leave pots wilting, lawns losing their colour and flower beds looking rather sorry for themselves. When a hosepipe ban is introduced, it is natural to worry that months of careful gardening could be undone in a matter of days.

The good news is that keeping your garden healthy during a hosepipe ban is perfectly possible. The key is not to water everything as you normally would, but to decide which plants genuinely need help and deliver water directly to their roots with as little waste as possible.

As of 24 July 2026, hosepipe restrictions are in force across several UK water-company regions. The exact rules, dates and exemptions depend on your supplier, so check your water company’s current guidance before watering. Water UK provides a supplier finder and up-to-date information for customers.

In this guide, we will look at how to prioritise vulnerable plants, water effectively without a hosepipe, retain moisture in the soil and make your garden more resilient for the rest of the summer.

First, Check What Your Hosepipe Ban Allows

A hosepipe ban is formally known as a Temporary Use Ban. It normally restricts using a hosepipe connected to the mains water supply for activities such as watering a private garden, cleaning vehicles and filling pools.

It does not necessarily mean that all garden watering is prohibited. Ofwat advises that plants can generally still be watered using a watering can or bucket, although restrictions and exemptions can differ between water companies. Breaking the rules can result in a fine of up to £1,000.

Before making a watering plan:

• Find out which company supplies your water.
• Read the current restrictions on its official website.
• Check whether any exemptions apply to you.
• Do not assume that a neighbour supplied by another company has the same rules.
• Recheck the guidance if the ban continues, as restrictions may change.
  
  

Some exemptions may cover particular health, accessibility, animal-welfare or newly established planting needs. However, never rely on a general list found on social media. Your own water supplier’s published conditions should always take priority.

Decide Which Parts of the Garden Actually Need Water

During a hosepipe ban, trying to keep every part of the garden looking exactly as it did after a wet spring is rarely realistic. A better approach is to protect the plants most likely to suffer permanent damage.

Containers and Hanging Baskets

Plants in containers have access to a limited amount of compost, which can dry out quickly in hot or windy weather. Hanging baskets are particularly vulnerable because they are exposed on several sides.

Check the compost each day by pressing a finger a few centimetres below the surface. If it still feels damp, leave it alone. When it feels dry, water slowly until the compost is evenly moist.

Moving pots away from a sun-baked wall or grouping containers together can also reduce moisture loss. Place saucers beneath suitable pots to catch drainage, but do not leave plants that dislike waterlogged conditions standing permanently in water.

Newly Planted Trees, Shrubs and Perennials

New plants have not yet developed the deeper root systems that help established plants survive dry conditions. Trees, shrubs, hedging and perennials planted during the past year should therefore be high on your priority list.

Apply water slowly around the root area rather than wetting the entire bed. The RHS recommends deep watering around newly planted trees and shrubs so moisture reaches the rootball rather than remaining near the surface.

Seedlings and Young Plants

Seedlings have small, shallow root systems and can deteriorate quickly once the upper layer of compost or soil dries out.

Use a watering can with a fine rose attachment to avoid disturbing seeds or washing compost away. A gentle application is more effective than pouring a large amount of water into one spot.

Fruit and Vegetable Crops at Crucial Stages

Some crops cope better with dry conditions than others. Leafy vegetables such as lettuce and spinach need more consistent moisture, while fruiting and pod-forming crops can suffer if they dry out while flowering or developing produce.

Prioritise:

• Leafy salads
• Courgettes and marrows
• Tomatoes grown in containers
• Runner beans and peas
• Newly planted vegetables
• Plants currently flowering or setting fruit

Established root crops such as carrots and beetroot may need less frequent attention, depending on your soil and their stage of growth.

Greenhouse Plants

Greenhouses become extremely warm in direct summer sunshine. Plants growing under cover also receive no help from unexpected rain.

Check greenhouse containers regularly, improve ventilation where possible and provide temporary shading during the hottest part of the day. Capillary matting can help distribute water steadily beneath suitable pots, reducing the risk of individual containers drying out between checks.

Established Borders

Established trees, shrubs and perennials generally cope better with a dry spell than new planting. Rather than watering the whole border, look for individual plants showing genuine signs of stress.

Drooping leaves first thing in the morning are more concerning than temporary wilting during the hottest part of the afternoon. Morning wilting suggests that the plant has not recovered overnight and may need water.

Established Lawns

A golden lawn may not look ideal, but established grass is usually more resilient than it appears. It can enter a dormant state during prolonged dry weather and recover when rain returns.

The RHS recommends allowing established lawns to turn brown rather than using limited water to keep them green. Raising the mower height or pausing mowing can also help the grass retain moisture for longer.

Unless your turf is newly laid or your lawn has recently been seeded, focus your available water elsewhere.

Related products

2kW PTC Turbo Fan Industrial Space Heater

2kW PTC Turbo Fan Industrial Space Heater with thermostat, 3 heat settings and carry handle for use in workshops, garages, offices, shops, sheds, greenhouses and restaurants.

Product title

Product description

Product title

Product description

Water Thoroughly Rather Than Little and Often

A quick splash across the surface may make the soil look damp, but it often does very little for the plant beneath it. Shallow watering encourages roots to remain near the surface, where they are more vulnerable to heat and drying.

Instead, water less frequently but more thoroughly.

Water Directly at the Base

Aim your watering can at the soil around the plant rather than over its leaves. This reduces waste and sends the water where it is needed.

Keeping foliage dry can also reduce the risk of some fungal problems, particularly when watering in the evening.

For larger plants, create a shallow ring or basin in the soil around the root area. Fill it gradually and allow the water to soak in before adding more. This is particularly helpful on sloping ground or dry soil where water would otherwise run away.

Apply Water Slowly

Very dry compost and soil can initially repel water. Pouring too quickly may simply send it over the surface and away from the roots.

Use a watering can with a rose for gentle distribution, or remove the rose when you need to deliver a controlled flow directly to the base of a larger plant. Pegdev’s gardening range includes watering cans designed for controlled watering, including options with detachable sprinkler nozzles.

For especially dry pots:

1. Apply a small amount of water.
2. Wait a few minutes for the surface to absorb it.
3. Return and water more thoroughly.
4. Check that the centre of the rootball has become moist.

Check Beneath the Surface

The top of the soil can appear dry while there is still sufficient moisture around the roots. Equally, a recently dampened surface can hide completely dry soil underneath.

Use your finger, a hand trowel or a soil moisture tester to check below the surface before watering. In established borders, the RHS recommends checking whether moisture has reached approximately 15cm into the soil after thorough watering.

This simple check prevents both unnecessary watering and the false economy of applying too little.

Water Early in the Morning

Early morning is generally the best time to water during hot weather. Temperatures are lower, evaporation is reduced and plants have moisture available as the day warms.

Evening watering is a reasonable second choice, particularly for containers that have dried out during the day. However, try to keep leaves dry because wet foliage left overnight may encourage pests or fungal problems.

Avoid watering in the heat of the day wherever possible. More water may evaporate before it reaches the roots, making every trip with the watering can less effective.

Mulch to Keep Moisture in the Soil

Mulching is one of the most useful steps you can take during a dry summer. A layer of material over the soil helps reduce evaporation, shields roots from extreme temperatures and suppresses weeds that would otherwise compete with plants for water.

Suitable mulching materials may include:

• Well-rotted garden compost
• Composted bark
• Leaf mould
• Well-rotted manure
• Gravel or decorative stone where appropriate

Before mulching, remove weeds and water the soil thoroughly. Applying mulch to completely dry ground can make it harder for later rainfall or watering to penetrate.

Spread a layer at least 5cm deep where space allows, but leave a small gap around stems and trunks to reduce the risk of rot. The RHS recommends watering before mulching so that moisture is locked into the soil rather than kept out.

If you cannot mulch an entire garden, concentrate on:

• Newly planted borders
• Young trees and shrubs
• Vegetable beds
• Containers exposed to direct sunshine
• Areas beneath hedges
• Plants growing beside warm walls

Make Better Use of Rainwater

A hosepipe ban often arrives after rainwater stores have already begun to run low. However, even a brief summer downpour can provide useful water if you are ready to collect it.

Connect water butts to downpipes on houses, sheds, garages and greenhouses. Keep lids secure to reduce contamination and help prevent animals or children from accessing the water.

If your existing water butt fills quickly, consider adding another container using a linking kit. Larger gardens and commercial sites may benefit from several collection points rather than relying on one central store.

Stored rainwater is particularly useful for:

• Containers and baskets
• Greenhouse plants
• Ornamental borders
• Young trees and shrubs
• Topping up wildlife water dishes

Use a watering can to transport and apply collected water unless your supplier has confirmed that another method is permitted under its restrictions.

Reuse Household Water Carefully

Lightly used household water, often called grey water, can help ornamental plants through a short period of drought when rainwater has run out.

Suitable sources may include:

• Water collected while waiting for a shower to warm up
• Bath or shower water
• Water from handwashing
• Some washing-machine rinse water

Grey water should be used carefully. The RHS recommends storing it for no longer than 24 hours because bacteria can multiply. It is best used for short periods on ornamental plants rather than edible crops, and softened or dishwasher water may contain salts that make it less suitable.

Apply grey water to the soil rather than leaves, and avoid water containing bleach, strong disinfectants or other harsh cleaning chemicals.

A simple habit can make a surprising difference: keep a clean bucket or watering can near the shower to collect the cold water that runs before the temperature becomes comfortable.

Reduce Competition from Weeds

Weeds compete with garden plants for the same limited supply of moisture. Removing them means more water remains available to the plants you want to protect.

Hoe small weeds during dry weather and leave them on the surface only when they have no mature seeds and are unlikely to re-root. Larger weeds should be removed by hand or with an appropriate garden tool.

After weeding, apply mulch to slow down regrowth and reduce the number of repeat jobs needed during the summer.

Give Containers Some Temporary Shade

Plants in dark-coloured pots can become particularly hot in full sun. Moving vulnerable containers into light shade during a prolonged dry spell can dramatically reduce how quickly they lose water.

You could:

• Move pots away from south-facing walls.
• Group containers together.
• Place smaller pots behind larger ones.
• Use temporary shade cloth in greenhouses.
• Raise containers slightly from very hot paving.
• Put suitable saucers beneath pots to collect run-off.

Avoid moving sun-loving plants into deep shade for weeks at a time. The aim is to reduce exposure during the harshest conditions, not remove all the light they need.

Pause Water-Hungry Garden Jobs

A hosepipe ban is not the ideal time to begin a project that depends on frequent watering.

Where possible, delay:

• Laying new turf
• Sowing a new lawn
• Planting large numbers of new shrubs
• Dividing established perennials
• Moving mature plants
• Pressure washing paths and patios
• Regular close mowing

Focus instead on maintenance jobs such as weeding, mulching, deadheading, cleaning hand tools and planning improvements for autumn.

Autumn planting usually gives trees, shrubs and perennials more time to establish roots during cooler, wetter weather before the following summer.

Advice for Landscapers and Commercial Grounds Teams

Larger sites require a more structured approach because it may not be practical to inspect every plant individually.

Begin by dividing the site into priority zones:

Priority one: Newly planted areas, containers, high-value specimens, food crops and plants showing severe stress.

Priority two: Established ornamental planting that is important to the appearance or function of the site.

Priority three: Established lawns, mature shrubs and areas likely to recover naturally when rainfall returns.

Commercial teams should also:

• Confirm restrictions for every site, particularly when working across water-company boundaries.
• Brief staff on permitted watering methods.
• Keep watering cans and suitable portable water containers available.
• Schedule essential watering for early morning.
• Record newly planted areas and any relevant exemptions.
• Suspend non-essential washing and irrigation.
• Check soil moisture rather than following a fixed timetable.
• Report leaks from outdoor taps, fittings or storage systems promptly.

This approach protects the most valuable planting while demonstrating responsible water use to clients, staff and visitors.

Build a More Drought-Resilient Garden

Once the immediate dry spell has passed, consider changes that will make future summers easier to manage.

Longer-term improvements could include:

• Installing additional water butts.
• Improving soil with organic matter.
• Mulching beds and borders annually.
• Choosing plants suited to the soil and conditions.
• Planting trees and shrubs during autumn.
• Reducing the proportion of frequently watered containers.
• Selecting larger pots that dry out more slowly.
• Grouping plants with similar watering needs.
• Allowing some lawn areas to become more natural.
• Reviewing where rainwater runs off hard surfaces and whether it can be collected safely.

A water-wise garden does not need to look dry or sparse. Thoughtful planting and healthier soil can produce an attractive garden that needs less intervention when rainfall is limited.

Keep Calm and Water Where It Counts

A hosepipe ban does not mean abandoning your garden. It simply calls for a more selective and thoughtful approach.

Check your local rules, protect newly planted and container-grown plants, let established lawns rest and deliver water slowly to the roots that need it most. Add mulch, collect rainwater and reuse suitable household water carefully, and your garden can remain healthy without wasting valuable supplies.

For practical help with water-wise garden care, explore Pegdev’s range of watering cans, capillary matting, soil testers and gardening essentials.