Hot, dry spells are putting more pressure on gardens and on water supplies. Spring 2025 was one of the driest on record in England, and several areas were declared to be in drought. Water bills are also rising. According to Water UK, the average water and sewerage bill in England and Wales went up by £33 (5.4%) to £639 a year from April 2026. The change varies by water company, from 0.4% at Thames Water to 10% at Severn Trent.

Here are some tips from gardening experts, plus ways to keep water bills down.

When to water

Watering in the evening or early morning, when it's cooler, means less water evaporates before it reaches the roots. Watering in the heat of the day loses more to evaporation.

If your water company has a hosepipe ban in place, you can't use a hosepipe or sprinkler to water your garden. You can use a watering can or rainwater from a water butt instead. Breaking a hosepipe ban can lead to a fine of up to £1,000.

Avoid over-watering

Plants don't usually need watering every day. Water when they start to show signs of stress, such as wilting, and water deeply. The National Trust warns that watering only the surface of the soil can encourage shallow roots.

Preparing your garden before a holiday

Before going away, Gardeners' World presenter Monty Don suggests:

• weeding borders

• deadheading plants

• mowing and edging the lawn

• topping up the pond

For pots, give them a thorough soaking before you leave and stand them on saucers, or sink them into a border so they can draw water from the soil. You could also ask a neighbour to water plants and pick crops, offering to do the same for them in return.

Pick crops that are nearly ready before you go. Picking can encourage more to grow, and most produce can be frozen.

Deadheading

Removing faded flowers (deadheading) can encourage many plants to keep flowering into autumn, according to Gardeners' World. Roses, dahlias, perennials and annual bedding plants are among those that benefit.

Use well-rotted manure

Manure adds nutrients to soil, but fresh manure can be too strong for plants and may contain pathogens. Gardening organisations recommend using manure that has been well rotted before adding it to beds.

Banana peel "tea"

Some gardeners soak banana peels in water and use the liquid as a homemade feed, because peels contain potassium. A typical method is to chop two or three peels, steep them in a litre of water for three to seven days, then dilute one part of the liquid with five parts water. There's little evidence on how much nutrient the liquid provides, so treat it as a home remedy rather than a replacement for fertiliser.

Ways to reduce your water bill

• Water butts collect rainwater for the garden, and many water companies sell them at a discount.

• A water meter can lower bills, especially if fewer people live in your home than it has bedrooms. You can usually ask your water company to fit one for free.

• Social tariffs: most water companies offer discounts for households on low incomes.

• WaterSure (WaterSure Wales in Wales) caps your bill at the average metered bill for your area. To qualify, you need a water meter (or to be waiting for one) and to receive a qualifying benefit, such as Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or Income Support. Someone in the home must also either have a medical condition that means using a lot of water, or there must be three or more children under 19 in full-time education. If your actual use costs less than the cap, you pay the lower amount.

Contact your water company to check what's available. If you're unhappy with how it deals with you, the Consumer Council for Water can help.