THE UK’s current heatwave is set to continue, for a few more days at least.
And those of us with plenty of plants in our gardens may be rather concerned about the possibility of a hosepipe ban.
Chris Bonnet, the founder and CEO of Gardening Express spoke to the Express sharing his tips on how to keep your plants hydrated in the hot weather, even if a hosepipe ban is brought into place.
His first tip for keeping plants hydrated and avoiding wasting water is to water the plants either first thing in the morning or late in the evening when the temperatures are cooler, and this applies whether you use a hosepipe, a watering can, or some other method of hydration.
He adds that in high temperatures you’ll want to give the soil a proper soaking, as plants will thrive more if they are pulling up water from deeper soil.
While it may not help much if there is a hosepipe ban, you can attach a soaker hose to your regular pipe, as this will avoid water wastage as the water gradually comes out over hours, until the tap is switched off.
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To help conserve water and keep plants hydrated in the event of a hosepipe ban, Chris stresses the importance of providing a thick protective layer of mulch, such as chipped bark around your plants.
This barrier will prevent water from evaporating right away and helps keep the roots of your plants cool in the hot weather.
For hanging and patio plants, the gardening expert says that you may have to water this twice a day.
But a great way to get around having to do this is by placing deep saucers under tubs and filling up each morning and evening – using this method the plants can draw up water as and when they need it.
With hanging baskets, Chris’s top tip is to plan ahead and include an ice cream tub (without holes in it) in the bottom of the basket when planting.
Fill and cover with compost, and plant the basket as you usually would. This tub will then act as an internal reservoir and fill up with water when needed.
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Chris further adds that if you’re adding plant feed when watering, stop doing this in the hot weather as it may cause unnecessary stress to the plants.
He also stresses the importance of ensuring your plants have enough shade – suggesting either putting a parasol up or using a frost protection fleece, as you might do in winter.
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