Keep your garden green this summer with water conservation advice from the experts at our garden centre in Hampshire

With the possibility of hose pipe bans and water restrictions ahead, we bring you advice from our garden centre in Hampshire. As well as essential irrigation information you will also be able to find all the water conservation products you need when you visit our plant nursery and garden centre in Hampshire.

Use mulch and reduce weeds to keep your garden green

The gurus at our garden centre in Hampshire recommend adding a layer of mulch, to prevent soil from becoming dry through water evaporation. Mulch is a layer of natural material, such as bark chips, grass cuttings or straw, which is placed on the surface of the soil to help stop weeds from flourishing, prevent water evaporation and improve the condition of the soil.

Weeds absorb moisture and vital food resources from plants and therefore it is recommended that you weed your entire garden to minimise water wastage and follow up by using weed fabric to further inhibit their growth.

Call into our garden centre in Hampshire to pick up water-retaining granules – when mixed in with compost or other potting mediums, these useful granules help to reduce the demand for frequent watering during dry spells and are particularly handy for potted plants, containers and hanging baskets.

Water butts and rain barrels from our garden centre in Hampshire

The gardening gurus at our garden centre in Hampshire recommend a water butt to harness rainwater as this will make a considerable contribution to your water supply. A water butt should be connected to a gutter to siphon off water from one of the downpipes from your roof, ideally in a position which gives easy access to your garden. Choose from 210 or 100 litre sizes, available from our garden centre in Hampshire.

When and how to water your plants

The experts at our garden centre in Hampshire advise that watering 'little and often' is not an efficient method, as the water does not penetrate deep into the ground – one good soak every 2-3 days is better than a daily sprinkle.

At our nursery and garden centre in Hampshire, we always water our plants in the cool of the morning or evening, when the temperature is low and humidity is high, to prevent the water being evaporated by the heat of the sun. Efficient irrigation methods ensure just the right amount of moisture for proper nutrient absorption without waste.

Finally, make sure the water you give your plants gets to where it is needed - the roots - rather than running off. A watering can allows efficient distribution of water to the soil and drip irrigation systems or porous soaker hoses offer even more efficient watering by delivering water to the soil as opposed to the foliage – just speak to one of the friendly nursery team at our garden centre in Hampshire to find out what would be the best solution for your garden.

Pick up everything you need for your garden from Country Market's garden centre in Hampshire

Water is a precious resource and vital to the life of your garden and conserving water is a good idea at any time of the year. Now that we have provided you with tips and advice, you can pick up all these water conserving products from Country Market's plant nursery and garden centre in Hampshire.