After weeks of dry soil, wilting borders, and relentless heat, the forecast is finally turning in our favour. For gardeners, rainfall is a wonderful opportunity to get your garden back to lush greenery, but you'll want to be smart about it. We've had such a long, dry spell that much of the ground has baked hard, meaning rainwater is more likely to run straight off than soak into the soil where your plants really need it.
To prepare for the rain, and really take advantage of the extra water coming down, you'll want to gen up on rainwater harvesting, with some essentials to hand. Placing a water butt under a gutter, a rain chain to guide the deluge down in style, and a clever dish in the right place could be some of the most effective jobs you do this summer to support your garden and the wildlife that helps it to thrive.
These are small, but essential tweaks, that will help you to make your garden look good again. From premium rain pots to practical basics, these little tweaks are what is known as 'rainscaping' - the expert way to make the most of your borders and planters. If you're ready to get practical, decorative, and a little bit damp, these nine buys will help you to make the most of every drop.
The cornerstone of any rainwater harvesting set-up, this water butt is a sensible choice for any average-sized garden. With a 100L capacity, it can collect enough to see you through several dry days, but is still compact and stylish enough to tuck away. It's also pre-raised, so you can easily fit a watering can under the tap
Top tip: place your water butt beneath a downpipe from your shed, greenhouse, or house guttering
This is the natural companion to your water butt, with the coordinated "thistle" colourway. The 10L can fits straight under the butt and has a rainhead system for watering your plants properly and for pouring over hardened, dry soil.
Top tip: keep this close to your water butt but have it stood out in the open during a downpour - the top will passively collect its own rain reserve
This is a clever 2-in-1 garden feature. The raised trough collects rainwater, preparing your garden for heatwaves when it's left empty, but can double-up as a planter when you want it to earn its keep outside of downpours. The rust-protective coating and galvanised steel build means you can leave this outdoors for the long haul too.
Top tip: place it somewhere it can catch rain from the open sky rather than under eaves or branches.
The decorative alternative to a downpipe, this rain chain guides water from the guttering down to the ground, or into a butt. It turns drainage into a pretty feature, working best when hanging from a gutter where the water has a clear, vertical run.The copper plating, whilst attractive, will also develop a natural verdigris patina which many gardeners love for its charm.
Top tip: the cupped-link design performs best in heavy rain because they slow and direct the water flow, rather than letting it splash, which is good to think about for paths and seating
A pot that drinks water responsibly, this has a built-in reservoir beneath the main pot, which lets roots sip water though a wicking system so that none goes to waste. As with the trough, try to place this in open areas where rainfall will happen freely. It's also made from recycled plastic, which is a lower-impact alternative to many popular designs.
Top tip: check the reservoir level and don't let it sit full all of the time, otherwise you'll get root rot.
This is really as simple as it looks - a set of buckets, placed under a drip or the raining sky is one of the simplest, but still most effective ways to collect rain. You can carry them around using robust handles and that extra water will help your garden to recover from the heatwaves.
Top tip: unlike plastic, these won't degrade or become brittle from UV exposure and their weight will stop them from blowing over
It's not just your borders that are in desperate need of a drink, the birds, butterflies, and other garden wildlife needs help through heatwaves too. This small-scale trio is designed to catch water in a series of shallow dishes, doubling as a watering hole for the insects and creatures that keep your garden thriving. They're perfect for small gardens, balconies, and courtyards, where a full-size butt might not be practical.
Top tip: position these somewhere they can be self-filling and you can top them up between dry spells too
Rain pots bring the same principle as a water butt, in a more ornamental package. Tall glazed and decorative, you can leave these open to the sky for collecting rainwater passively, doubling up as a garden feature in its own right. You'll want it in an open, visible space since part of its appeal is in aesthetics.
Top tip: make sure you have a smaller can or jug to dip in here for collecting water to distribute over the garden
A drip hose, or soaker, isn't a collection method, but it makes a natural partner to all your water-efficient work. Once you've captured your rainwater, this slowly and directly delivers water to the root zone, neatly avoiding evaporation or run-off. Snake it along borders and between rows of vegetables at the base of plants to keep your garden healthy when you're on holiday too.
Top tip: connect this to your water butt via a gravity-fed or low-pressure pump system
Whether you're helping your plants recover from sunburn and the extended heatwave, or looking for eco-conscious upgrades that make the most of what the weather's offering, these are nine essentials for any garden. I've got my gardener's gloves on and my fingers crossed that the rain keeps coming - our thirsty gardens need it.
