Garden guru says dirty sink water is fine to water some plants - but not all

28 June 2023 , 09:11

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Monty Don has shared his best tips (Image: BBC)

As a result of the current hot spell that continues across the UK, hosepipe bans have already been put into force across parts of the country, will other places likely to follow.

South East Water has introduced a hosepipe ban for its customers in Kent and Sussex, citing an increase in demand.

A hosepipe ban, which is a temporary ban on using a hosepipe put in place by water companies when there is a high demand and low supply, is bad news for those wanting to keep their immaculate gardens in top shape.

Luckily, BBC Gardeners' World star Monty Don has shared his top tips for how to water plans when there's a hosepipe ban in place.

The TV presenter and gardening guru has urged Brits not to chuck out their old sink water, and instead use that to water certain plants.

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Monty has urged people not to throw out their dirty dish water (BBC/Richard Hanmer)

Speaking on Gardeners' World during a heatwave in 2022, Monty said: "I'm clutching a bowl of washing up water - grey water - because in the very dry conditions we've had you need to use whatever water you can. Grey water, whether it's a washing dishes or yourself, is perfectly good on floral plants.

"Don't use it on edible food. Let it cool down of course, and I've got it here for this clematis.

"But because it's a young plant, it means that its root system is fairly small. So, therefore, it's not able to access the moisture that might be deeper down in the soil, so I'm having to make sure it is really well-watered.

"And clematis is one of those plants that really needs water. So grey water is perfect for them."

During the programme the gardening expert could be seen holding a grey washing-up bowl filled with soapy water which was left after doing dishes.

He recommends using dirty dish water (stock image) (Getty Images)

According to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), it's perfectly safe for plants to be watered with so-called "grey water" such as shower, bath, kitchen and washing machine water (from rinse cycles).

This is because "soil and potting composts are effective at filtering them out, and the residues can sometimes act as a mild fertiliser".

However, in order to minimise bacterial growth, you should only save the water for 24 hours, unless it's been filtered through a "reed bed or professionally designed system".

As Monty previously said, there only exception should be on "edible crops", due to the "risk of contamination from pathogens in the water". That being said, there should be no problem with "small-scale, short term use of grey water to ride plants over in summer drought," says the RHS.

Ariane Sohrabi-Shiraz