[Auntiemogs]

Anyone know if drip irrigation systems are included in this?  :blink:

[Aunt Sally]

We've had this advice from the Rochester Allotment and Gardeners Association newsletter this month:

Digging conditions are good but with the threat of water shortages you might do best to restrict your cultivation to the top few inches.  In the summer young plants rely on capillary action for water to rise from the sub-soil during dry spells.  Deep digging in late winter/spring destroys the soil structure and prevents water rise.  The moral is to complete any digging and add organic matter in the autumn before the (normal) winter rains.  On light soils the minimum of soil disturbance and top-dressing with a mulch can give better results.

[mumofstig]

That confirms the advice I gave on the other thread 

I wouldn't do any more digging,

[Aunt Sally]

Then they were quite right

[Auntiemogs]

Thanks Auntie.    I don't have a lottie, so water-wise I'm fortunate but there's no way I can manage with a watering can (or a hosepipe actually, hence the drippers).  Going to give Southern Water a bell tomz for some info & will post owt useful.
Mags  

[mumofstig]

I think I'll invest in one of these
http://www.aqualogic-wc.com/?template=product.html&productKey=pro-e41c431f000142

so I can pump the bath/shower/washing machine water out onto the garden 

[Auntiemogs]

Fantastic Mum, thanks!   

[engineer]

the things i have to use each year, because of fine sandy soil, consists of ex bath and sink drainage pipe cut into 12" lenghts and inserted alongside each plant, filled with water nothing goes to waste and will give sufficient water for 2/3 days

[Yorkie]

That's a very good idea - targeted watering ensures the water goes to the roots without evaporation on the surface.

[engineer]

HMM yorkie, never thought of the term, targeted watering, good 

[Auntiemogs]

Plus conservation of natural resources, via water retaining substances (a la Pound shop)...

[Goldfinger]

Over my fruit bush area, (this is only their 2nd year and they're still only knee high)....

Could I build some kind of 'lean-to' roof only type structure over them to get more 'rain water catchment area'?

As long as the roof is transparent, would there be a problem until the bushes get bigger?

[DD.]

Your bushes would get dry.

[sarajane]

one summer many years ago we had a hosepipe ban and OH diverted the bath water from the downspout into a large tub.  It soon filled the tub but unfortunately the smell was horrendous after a couple of days.  It made the area at the back of the house really stink so it was disconnected and we've never collected it since.  Seems such a waste.

I do remember however there is some type of additive you can add to water buts containing grey water that neutralises the smell but simply can't remember what its called.  Anyone out there got any idea what it is .

[Goldfinger]

Your bushes would get dry.

I've mulched around them with manure to hold in moisture, so was hoping all I would need to do was water with a can, so they would grow roots further out and 'go looking' for more sources of water and not rely on the stuff that comes straight down.