Start collecting rainwater now for a healthier garden all year-round

Spring is the perfect time to start preparing your garden for the months ahead, including thinking about water sources when the sunny weather hits. However, what if you knew your water butt could not only help your plants in the drier months but also protect your property all year-round?  

Water saving week 2026 focuses on small changes that make big impacts. Through having a thriving garden, and a protected one, you can not only bring change to your day-to-day life, but also the ecosystems around you.

Did you know that in an average year, even in the dry south-east of England, 2,500 to 3,500 litres of rainwater can be collected from a small shed roof? That is enough to fill between 25 and 35 standard 100 litre water butts. Every drop of water saved will not only reduce drainage into the soil, but is also the healthiest watering option for your plants. Below we have explored just a few ways water butts could benefit your garden.

Benefits of a water butt

Rainwater collected in water butts offers the best option for garden watering as it is naturally low in minerals and has the correct PH for most plants, unlike treated mains water. It is perfect for plants like rhododendrons and camellias which are popular plants that thrive in the UK.  

While having well-watered gardens in the summer is great, come winter those waterlogged lawns and overflowing pipes can be a cause for concern. Water butts offer year-round benefits to reduce flooding, sewage spills and protect rivers. By targeting specific areas prone to flooding near large water sources and sewage sites, water butts can have a cost-effective, positive impact on the local landscape. One campaign across Bristol had 120 water butts fitted which in total stored 30,000 litres of water. This kept the water out of waterways at risk of reaching capacity and meant the water was stored and used for better purposes later in the year.  

Water butts require minimum levels of maintenance, as long as your guttering and downpipes are clear, the water will collect year-round. Aways ensure your water butt is covered with a secure lid, like the ones we sell, to avoid organic debris falling in, clogging it up and causing bacterial growth.

With a little bit of effort and set up you will have plenty of free water at your disposal. Save on mains water costs, help conserve drinking water and give your plants the best chance to flourish this Spring.  

Give your garden the best headstart into summer by collecting rainwater now. We offer a range of easy to fit sizes and link kits for larger garden projects to slimline allotment options. See our full range of water butts here.  If you’re looking to save more water as we head into hotter months, explore our article on smart ways to save water in your garden this summer.