Watering ban – How to keep your plants alive

In spring and summer, watering bans or restrictions are sometimes introduced. This can be due to extreme drought, low water levels in lakes and reservoirs, unusually little precipitation over the winter and spring, or threats to water quality. When many people use a lot of water at the same time, it can also cause pressure issues in households—sometimes even resulting in brown water from the tap. To avoid overloading the pipes that transport the water, municipalities may introduce restrictions. 

The size of the area affected by a ban depends on local conditions. It’s important to follow any watering restrictions in place to ensure there’s enough water for everyone. While plants are highly valued, clean drinking water, water for cooking, and showering obviously come first. 

The specific rules during a watering ban or restriction can vary, and they’re usually set by the local municipality. The ban might, for example, prohibit the use of sprinklers or garden hoses, while still allowing watering cans. It might also apply during certain times of the day, only in specific areas, or for a limited period. Keep an eye on updates from your local municipality to know what applies to you.

A big part of it is making the most of the water you already have, but also setting your plants up for success so they can better handle limited access to water. Just as important is watering at the right time of day—so that the precious water you've saved doesn't evaporate before it reaches the roots.

Potted plants can be easily moved into the shade, or even indoors if it’s cooler there. For plants growing directly in the garden, you can create shade for those exposed to full sun by using a parasol or something similar. This helps prevent the soil from drying out too quickly.

If the soil around your plants is exposed, water will evaporate more quickly. By covering the soil with organic material—like grass clippings, old straw, wood chips, or bark mulch—you help the soil retain moisture for longer. This works just as well for potted plants as it does for those in the garden.

Most people let some water run down the drain while waiting for it to heat up in the shower—but that water can be saved and used for watering plants. Just place a bucket in the shower to collect it. Depending on the products you use, you might even be able to reuse your actual shower water for this purpose.

A tip that falls under the category of "should have thought of this earlier," especially if the drought has already arrived. However, rain will come again, and there will be new dry spells, so it’s worth putting a plan in place to collect rainwater. If there are no restrictions on this, you can collect rainwater that falls on the roof, and it can add up quickly. Place barrels in the corners near downspouts, and make sure to use lids—not only to avoid accidents but also to prevent evaporation.

Don't mow the grass too short during a drought! The shorter the grass, the higher the chance that the soil and grass roots will dry out, causing the lawn to turn dry and yellow. Let the grass grow longer instead, so that the soil and roots have some shade. This helps reduce evaporation and also gives the roots time to grow. If you've recently mowed the lawn, you can read more about how to use grass clippings in the garden—such as to reduce the need for watering your plants.

When cooking food, you have nutrient-rich cooking water that you can save. Just make sure there’s no salt in the water, as it’s not good for the plants. Let the water cool down, and then use it for watering.

By placing containers by the kitchen sink and in the bathroom, you can easily collect water that would otherwise be drained down the sink, such as when washing your hands, brushing your teeth (don’t leave the water running while doing so!), washing dishes, and so on. If you do the dishes by hand, you can even save the rinse water.

Water less frequently but more deeply, rather than watering often with little amounts. This encourages the roots to grow deeper into the soil, while also ensuring that the soil is well-moistened deep down. Also consider spot watering—place the nozzle of the hose directly into the soil and water each plant thoroughly (of course, only when using the hose is allowed).

Wait to sow grass, plant hedges, and other plants that require a lot of water until the fall, when it rains more.

Remember to water in the evening or early in the morning. If you water when it's hottest during the day, much of the water will evaporate before the plants can benefit from it.

When it comes to drought and watering, it's important to think about the next season already now. Start collecting rainwater early in the spring so you're prepared if a watering ban is imposed. Maybe it's too late for this season, but this tip is one of the most important – think long-term. There will be drought again, maybe not every year, but it's nice to be prepared when the municipality says stop and the garden hose must rest.

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