RHS Mains 2 Rains / RHS

RHS Mains 2 Rains

Water the way nature intended: pledge to help save water and the planet

Why Mains 2 Rains?

By 2055, the UK could be short of 6 billion litres of water a day 鈥� over a third of the supply currently available.

In a climate change future of water extremes 鈥� more intense droughts, more severe flooding 鈥� every drop matters. We can all help to manage this precious resource in our homes and gardens. Pledge to make a switch from Mains 2 Rains today and look for your watering can on the map as proof you鈥檙e part of the change.

Every action counts. Thank you for joining us in pledging to switch from Mains 2 Rains.

What pledges can you make?

Use a water butt to store rain water to use in dry spells and reduce flooding in wet periods
Use a watering can, not a hosepipe and direct water at the roots, rather than the leaves
Put drip-trays under pots to retain water and nutrients (remove in winter to avoid waterlogging)
Avoid watering the lawn and longer grass is more drought tolerant, so raise the mower blades too!
Mulch around plants, preferably with homemade compost, to reduce water evaporation from the soil

Add homemade compost to soil to promote healthy soil that holds more water
Choose the right plant for the right place using our Find A Plant tool to match to your garden environment
Use self-watering pots or baskets to capture rain, drainage & nutrients for better growth and less watering
Swap paving for plants to slow down run-off and encourage infiltration
Choose permeable paving over hard landscaping to slow down run-off and reduce flooding after high rainfall

Pledge watch

Explore our interactive map to see which Mains 2 Rains pledges gardeners have made across the country

What difference are you making?

Mains water use in our homes and gardens is often highest at times when there is least water available 鈥� in hot, dry periods.

However, by adopting a few simple pledges, we can all make our gardens and outdoor spaces thrive on the rainfall we do receive, by collecting it and then re-using it during dry spells.

Join in with a water-saving pledge to help the UK make the switch from mains to rains.

Your pledges will reap benefits for both your garden and the environment. They will help to:

Slow the flow, helping to reduce risk of flooding
Promote healthier soils, which store more water and nutrients
Promote resilient root systems, with deeper roots able to access more water
Collect and store rain, ready for you to use in times of drought.

鈥淐limate change predictions are for hotter, drier summers and milder, wetter winters. Heatwaves and droughts are more frequent, while warmer air holds more water, leading to more extreme rainfall. Managing water efficiently is paramount.鈥�
Dr Mark Gush, RHS Head of Environmental Horticulture

Discover our water advice

How to manage water in your garden

Everything you need to know about coping with too little or too much water in your garden, from garden design to plant choices to how to water efficiently

Visit the water hub