A garden full of wilting flowers with a dry and parched lawn is a depressing thought for many – but this could be the reality for millions in the coming weeks as a hosepipe ban comes into place.

South East Water has announced it is putting a ban on hose and sprinkler usage in Kent and East Sussex next week, following the driest July on record.

This will be worrying news for gardeners who will be concerned about heat-stricken grass and withering plants in the weeks following Monday 12 August when the ban will be put into place until further notice.

Understandably, many will be tempted to make a midnight trip into the garden to secretly give their beloved flowers a spritz of moisture in an attempt to keep their flowers luscious and alive.

However, others will be cautious of using any water, instead keeping a look-out for naughty neighbours breaking the rules.

So what would you do if you spy your next door neighbour slyly trying to water their roses in the middle of the night? Can you shop them to the authorities, perform a citizen’s arrest or would you simply let them carry on?

Similarly, what would happen if you decided your lawn needs a secret spray it to bring it back to life?

i takes a look at whether you can report your neighbours, what you can expect if you break the ban and the consequences for watering your plants.

South East Water is restricting the use of hose pipes and sprinklers from 12 August in both Kent and Sussex saying it had “no choice” after demand for water was at a record high in July.

It means households in these areas will be prevented from using hosepipes for watering their gardens, washing cars, patios and boats and from filling swimming and paddling pools.

The ban will be in place until further notice, meaning people are currently not aware how long it will be before they can water their garden again.

Some companies may allow exceptions to a ban or restriction, for example if you’re elderly or disabled, but South East Water has so far not announced any.

Firstly, if you see your neighbour breaking the ban, try to speak to them about it and explain why it is vital to preserve water.

There’s always the possibility – however unlikely – they haven’t seen the news and so don’t know about the ban.

If that doesn’t work or you get a hostile response, you can report them to a local authority or your water supplier. They are likely to contact the household directly and ask them to stop using water during the ban.

Ultimately, if people are found to be flouting the rules, they could be hit with a £1,000 fine or even be prosecuted through the criminal courts.

However, as much as it can be annoying to think your neighbour is not following the same rules that everyone else is, we are in a cost of living crisis and to lose £1,000 at any time, but especially now, will be a huge financial blow.

The same rules will apply to you as everyone else. If you decide to use your hose, your neighbours could report you and you could be slapped with a hefty fine.

However, it is possible to fill up your watering can from the tap, as long as it not your hose.

Unfortunately, you can’t use any outdoor water supply in a ban on your garden or to wash your car.

However, you can use water from inside so filling up a bucket and taking it outside is likely the best option.

Using a bucket to wash the car and a watering can on the garden will naturally use far less water than a hosepipe, which can use more water in an hour than an average family would use in a day.

i, with the help of gardening experts at Rated People, have provided tips on how households can look after the garden, even with a hosepipe ban.

A spokesperson for the Consumer Council for Water added: “Don’t worry if your lawn has turned brown during the hot weather. Grass is resilient stuff and will bounce back fine as soon as we eventually see some rain. So don’t waste time, don’t waste water, and don’t waste money by watering your lawn.”

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