Gardeners have been urged to do one thing to save their flowers this summer. Many Brits will jet off on a sun holiday to destinations like Spain, Portugal, and France this year. While they are away enjoying the sunshine and culture, their plants might suffer, especially during warmer weather. Many plants need daily watering. Oftentimes, we have to arrange for someone to come to our home to water our plants while we are away.
But an expert has shared their top tip for keeping your plants hydrated while you are away, especially when there is a spell of dry weather in the UK. There may well be such conditions in August, as the possibility of another heatwave looms in the country. Hayden Salt, Head Gardener at family-run plants specialist Jacksons Nurseries, shared his expert advice on how to keep your plants hydrated while you enjoy your summer holiday.
“Keeping plants hydrated at this time of year can be tricky,” he explained. “Water can evaporate quickly, run off the dry, firm ground rather than soaking in, and, of course, we’re into the summer holiday season when plants might be left for days unattended.
“But don’t panic, there’s a quick trick you can try that can help water fully soak down to the roots and ensure your plants are watered deeply. “Create a ‘moat’ over the rooting zone by ridging up the soil about 30cm away from the main stem all the way around the plant. Each time you water, the ridge prevents the water from running off so that it soaks in where it’s needed most.”
Hayden says that this method improves a plant’s water retention and helps them to stay hydrated for longer, allowing water to spread around aplant’s root zone.
He added: “This simple method makes a huge difference, especially if you’re heading off for a few days or facing watering restrictions. It’s a quick, simple trick that can really help your plants. It encourages deeper root growth and stops water from vanishing before plants can absorb it.”
“Aim for a moat of 5cm wide around smaller plants, up to 10cm for larger ones. Scrape back the top 2-3cm of earth immediately inside, but no more than that, so the water can gather before it soaks into the ground and towards the roots.
“You want it to be able to hold a decent amount of water without risking root rot or creating a breeding ground for pests. One important thing to note is that you must keep soil away from the stem of the plant.”