Help your garden survive the heat

How to water
Before you plant anything, make sure you've chosen the right plants for your soil and situation as that will mean you can water less frequently. Once planted, water them in well and apply a surface mulch to keep in moisture.

Always water to a depth of at least 2.5cm. Don't over water but avoid very light watering which encourages roots to grow too close to the surface. To ensure moisture gets to the roots, cut off the bottom of a plastic bottle, fix it upside down into the earth and fill with water. The water will then be released near the roots. Or try Aquadrip watering caps, £4.99 for six, from www.greenfingers.com.

Water in the cool of the evening so liquid soaks into the soil rather than evaporating.

Collect rainwater for droughts and lime-hating plants. Sankey's
GutterMate, £17.99, diverts and filters out leaves and debris from the downpipe to a water butt. When recycling domestic waste water that's been scooped out of the bath or from the washing up bowl, use it within a few hours.

What to water when
Vegetables Give priority to vegetables, watering root and tuber vegetables at least fortnightly and leafy plants every week. Most plants need plenty of water during and after flowering to get good crops.

Lawns Watering your lawn is very wasteful, as grass quickly recovers once the rain returns. The RSPB recommends leaving grass to grow longer as it's a valuable home and food source for birds and other creatures, and is less likely to dry out.

New plants Always plant them into a hollow in the soil so the water holds around the plant rather than running off. Water well and repeat when the soil is dry. Avoid getting foliage wet.

Established plants A drip hose is a convenient way to water a large garden, big shrubs or veg patches without wasting water. The hose is attached to the mains and can be disguised by mulch on the soil.

 

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