With a few smart techniques, you can reduce effort and waste while keeping your plants healthy and h (Image: Getty)
Hot weather can make garden watering feel endless, but with a few smart techniques, you can reduce effort and waste while keeping your plants healthy and happy.
Water Deeply Where It Counts
The goal is to get water down to the root zone. Moistening the top few centimetres isn’t enough, as it evaporates quickly and encourages shallow rooting. Aim for about 20cm deep, using a soil moisture meter to check without disturbing plant roots. This helps plants develop strong root systems and withstand dry periods better. Plants with darker or thicker leaves often lose more moisture and may need more frequent watering. Hanging baskets and small pots benefit from consistent, moderate watering. Grouping containers together helps reduce evaporation and creates a sheltered, humid microclimate that eases plant stress. Adding mulch to the surface of pots or borders also slows water loss and keeps roots cool in high summer temperatures.
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Make Watering Work Harder
Water early in the morning to avoid the hottest part of the day, when evaporation is highest. Evenings also work for this, but can create the perfect environment for slugs and snails. Learn more about keeping slugs and snails at bay at my YouTube channel, @daviddomoney.
If pots dry out completely, soak them in a bucket of water until the bubbles stop rising. This rehydrates the compost and prevents water from running off the surface. You can reuse the same water on other dry containers.
If using trays beneath pots, empty them regularly to prevent stagnant water and root rot. Adding shade to vulnerable containers during midday heat can further reduce water demand.
Collect Rain and Improve Soil Health
Installing a water butt is an easy way to collect rainwater. A single barrel can help with small planting areas, whilst larger gardens may benefit from multiple collection points or linked storage tanks.
Soil type affects how well water is retained. Clay soil can become compacted and hold too much water, while sandy soil loses moisture quickly. Improve either by adding compost or organic matter during autumn and winter to support healthy water retention in summer. Raised beds with blended soil mixes can also help moderate extremes. A well-conditioned soil reduces the need to water as often and supports better plant health overall.
Use the Right Tools for the Job
A hose with adjustable spray settings is ideal. Use a fine mist for young seedlings and a more powerful stream for established plants with thicker foliage. Choose fittings that avoid kinks or tangles to make watering more efficient. In edible gardens, an oscillating sprinkler with a timer can cover large areas effectively.
For greater precision, a solar-powered Irrigatia system adjusts watering levels based on sunlight and rainfall, delivering just the right amount at the right time, wherever you have positioned your drippers. It also uses natural rainwater rather than a mains supply, which is better for your plants.
With careful planning, your summer watering routine can be lighter, greener, and far more effective. To learn more about watering, head to episode three of Step-by-Step Gardening at my YouTube channel, @daviddomoney.
Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus is better known as globe artichoke (Image: Getty)
Focus Plant – Globe Artichoke
Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus, better known as globe artichoke, brings bold texture and striking form to the garden just as summer crops begin to fade. With its silvery foliage and tall flower spikes, it offers both ornamental value and edible harvests.
In August, mature plants often show tightly formed buds or vivid purple flowers if left unpicked. For eating, harvest the buds before they start to open, whilst still tender. Once the heads bloom, they become fibrous, but the flowers attract pollinators and add dramatic height to borders.
Artichokes thrive in sunny, sheltered positions with fertile, well-drained soil. During dry spells, water regularly to support bud development, and mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
Cut back flowering stems in early autumn and mulch the crown well to protect it over winter. Plants remain productive for around five years and can be divided in spring or autumn to maintain vigour.
Fun fact: Globe artichokes are part of the thistle family and have been grown for over 2,000 years. Although Mediterranean in origin, they adapt surprisingly well to UK conditions, making them a standout in both kitchen gardens and ornamental borders.
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Top 5 Gardening Jobs
1. Fix wobbly paving slabs now before autumn rain makes the job harder. Loose slabs can become slippery or shift further in wet weather, creating trip hazards and damaging surrounding areas. Lift the affected slab, level the base using sharp sand or mortar, and bed it back in firmly.
2. Take cuttings of tender perennials like pelargoniums, salvias, or fuchsias to grow replacements for next year. Choose healthy, non-flowering shoots about 10cm long, remove lower leaves, and place them in moist, gritty compost. Keep them in a bright, sheltered spot out of direct sun while roots develop. Ames snips are perfect for getting precise cuttings from your tender perennials.
3. Check trees and shrubs for early signs of honey fungus or root rot. Watch for clusters of toadstools, white mycelium under bark, or dieback in the canopy. Catching symptoms early can help reduce the spread. Improve drainage and remove infected material to protect nearby plants.
4. Net ripening fruit on trees and bushes to protect it from birds, wasps, and squirrels. Choose a fine mesh and secure it well to prevent access underneath. Regularly check the netting to ensure no wildlife becomes entangled and to make harvesting easier.
5. Clear spent crops like peas, broad beans, or early potatoes to make space for autumn planting. Remove plant debris, weed thoroughly, and add compost or fertiliser to refresh the soil before replanting.
Did you know?
The name Campanula comes from Latin, meaning “little bell,” referring to the distinctive bell-shaped flowers. With over 500 species, this group includes popular border plants like Campanula persicifolia and alpine varieties like Campanula carpatica.
Dendrochronology is the scientific method of dating based on tree rings. Each ring marks a year of growth, with variations in width showing past climate conditions, droughts, and even historical volcanic eruptions or forest fires.
Boxwood, or Buxus sempervirens, was historically used to craft musical instruments, especially woodwind parts and recorders. Its dense, fine-grained wood cuts cleanly and doesn’t warp, making it ideal for precision carving and tuning.
Archaeological evidence suggests humans have been eating wild strawberries since the Stone Age. Whilst today’s cultivated varieties are more recent hybrids, their small, sweet ancestors were foraged and enjoyed thousands of years ago.
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