Download the Dobbies.com Water Butt Guide

Water butts collect and store rainwater so the water can be used at a later date. By using free rainwater instead of expensive tap water you can reduce your water bills.

Watering your garden is just one of many uses for your water butt. Your free rainwater can be used to clean the car, fill a paddling pool and top up a bird bath. With a filtering system fitted your rainwater can even be used for drinking.

Our water butt guide includes advice on “why you need a water butt”, “how to install a water butt” as well as the different water butts and accessories available.

If your looking for a way to reduce your bills and help the environment then get yourself a water butt.

Click here to download the Dobbies.com Water Butt Guide (PDF)

Avoid hosepipe bans with water conservation

Water levels in reservoirs and lakes have sunk to less than half their capacity due to the region’s driest start to the year since 1929. Fines of up to £1000 will be imposed on those who break the ban.

Gardening as we know it is under threat from water shortages. We need to take water conservation more seriously and save our gardens. Here are some water conservation blogs with useful tips and interesting information:

Potty Girl – Living in sunny Georgia, Andrea writes to help local people change their daily habits through environmentally friendly living. She’s currently focusing on water conservation and has written many thought provoking posts such as The Business of Bottled Water: An “Obsession” with a Price. Potty Girl was named by her daughter who says she is obsessed with toilets!

Watercrunch – Interweaving water and engineering ‘…because they should never be boring!’. Here is a wonderful blog by Robert Osbourne, a civil engineer from South Carolina. He offers some fascinating, and sometimes shocking water information. Check out How Much Water Is Consumed For a Google Search for some number crunching followed by your jaw dropping!

Water Use It Wisely – This blog is a wealth of information and award-winning water conservation content. Lots of helpful hints and tips here such as this one: ‘Water saving device No.44; Avoid watering when it’s windy to prevent evaporation.’

Aguanomics – Economist David Zetland runs this blog that is (in case you hadn’t guessed!) all about the economics of water. The mass of information and data is somewhat daunting to begin with, but give it a read to discover some very, very good points and some informative and interesting views.

Water For The Ages – This blog was created by Abigail as a place to discuss global water issues. Having had a passion for water conservation since childhood, Abigail is now studying a masters degree in Water Resources Policy and Management. Her posts are punchy and fun, but poignant and serious when needed.

Thirsty In Suburbia – ‘Today, there are many brilliant, thought-provoking and insightful blogs covering the complex issues on the topic of water. This is not one of them.’ says creator Gayle Leonard. And she has a point! Documented here are lots of fun and humorous; sometimes bizarre items that are all about water. Take her most recent posts Water in a Bag: Crazy Convenient as evidence!

Elizabeth Royte: Notes on waste, water, whatever – Elizabeth Royte is the author of Bottlemania: How Water Went On Sale and Why We Bought It, and her writing on science and the environment has appeared in Harper’s, National Geographic, and The New York Times Magazine to name but a few. Elizabeth has a real bone of contention when it comes to water. Check out the post on ‘Cutting library hours v. walking a few steps to get a sip of water’ to get a taste of what this blog is really about. Enjoy!

Actively Moving Water – Growing populations and scarce water resources have created the need for water quantity markets across Western America. As blog author Chris Corbin states “water is not conducive to trade.” This blog provides an interesting insight in to water rights and water markets, see if you share his ‘thoughts on the water market and wine’.

Chance of Rain – Emily Green works for the LA Times and was one of 60 cultural leaders featured in the LA Weekly ‘People’ issue for her work on this blog. Lots of cool stuff to see here regarding water and gardening as well as just a little politics. Dive in.

Download this free Easy Guide to Watering & Feeding to learn all there is to know about good plant watering and feeding techniques.

If you want the plants in your garden to grow as well as they possibly can, then watering and feeding them regularly and in the right way, is essential. This guide explains how you should be altering the water and nutrients you provide your plants with at the different stages of the year.

Click here to download The Easy Guide to Watering & Feeding (PDF)