Watering Exhaustion - a change is needed!

I only water my tomatoes everything else has to take it’s chance with my washing up water. It will all grow back next year

In a recent article I read that it was more efficient to fill the watering can from the hose and water directly into the centre of the plant. I do know that this method would be much easier on my back . I could take the hose to the top of the garden together with an empty watering can.
DO you think this could be used in a hosepipe ban.?

I am struggling with the chore of watering every evening. I feel guilty using hose pipe but can't physically carry lots of cans of water. Next year will only plant lavender and geraniums in my pots and won't have so many either. That said I have just applied to local housing association for smaller property as now on my own, upkeep of house and garden too much and with the rising costs of heating I don't want to be heating a large 3 bed house. A small bungalow or flat with a balcony would suit me fine. Don't want to worry bout heating, watering garden, upkeep of house and garden etc etc for the rest of my life.

We are on a hosepipe ban, the three hanging baskets have been sacrificed, the rear bed of perennials looks ok for now, we may need to get a chain going with watering cans soon. I’m watering veg, including the greenhouse and two smaller beds with newer plants in.
Longer term we’re looking at diverting all upstairs water, shower/sinks/bath into extra butts.

A definite re-think here on what will go in pots next year which will undoubtedly trigger the wettest summer on record

Seriously we are re-thinking the garden to make it less water reliant, it seems a sensible way to go. As we live next to a river there is always water under ground here, unless the river dries up of course, our grass at the back remains green while the front is yellow. I'm constantly explaining that no we haven't been watering the grass in the back, it waters itself from underground. Deeper rooted trees and established shrubs are also fine, it's the shallow rooted plants that are struggling. At the moment we are trying to keep some plants in tubs at a neighbours house alive, unfortunately it seems to be a losing battle as they are quite delicate. All we can do is our best.

karmalady So sorry?

I guess jarmalady that as you’re still using water butts you’ve had a little bit of rain. We’ve had only one short shower since April. My water butts dried out long ago.

I’ve managed to keep the most precious plants alive with the watering can. Most of my water has been directed to the vegetables. But I think I will now just have to give up on all the root crops.

None of the flowers on my runner beans will set. Any advice would be welcome.

I have 2 tall large water butts, quite attractive cream columns and they last for very many years, had some in the last house so tried and tested. I also have at least 5 watering cans and don`t use a hose

I have a new small garden ie 3 years old and it now is a micro climate, full of greenery and 7 small trees. All through this time I have been adding humus, at the least it has been composted bark and the soil is now holding onto water at deeper levels

I have been aiming to make it as drought proof as possible hence trees, apples and rowans and roses and ground cover like sedums and geranium. I have colour with echinacea and roses. Definitely it is working wrt water retention and the micro climate, asparagus beds, cause light shade which protects most of it

Re pots yes me too. I now only grow lavenders and agapanthus in my normal pots. I have 72 hanging basket strawberry plants in many trough planters but they are self watering and right now only need a fill once a week, they are on tier stands so are easy. I have 2 japanese maples in 2 large self watering pots, last watered a month ago

soil structure is key really and my veggies don`t need an excessive amount of watering

I use a Walker with a seat , I shove my watering cans , or the washing up basin on the seat , to get the water round my plants

I've no suggestions but I understand exactly how you feel.

I feel a bit guilty using the garden hose ... no hose ban yet but I'm not going to let my plants die. I love them ???

It's ok to say use washing up water but it's too heavy to move and there's not enough of it anyway.

I do find mulching helps but I'm still using my hospice while I can. I've too much time and money invested in my garden to lose it all.

We are still allowed to use the hose for vegetables between 8pm and 10am in our bit of France so the vegetable garden gets a brief watering. Then like you it is watering cans from butts, run-offs from taps etc. We have only been here 18 months so a lot of the planting is new and that is a nightmare. The grass is like weetabix, apart from over the run-offs from the septic tank.
There is a village pump next to the lavoir opposite with a constant stream of people with tanks on trailers. The water never looks very clean, I wouldn't have fancied it for doing my washing!
We do have storms and rain forecast from Sunday.