HOW TO HELP KEEP MOISTURE IN SOIL – WITH TOM PATTINSON

It’s so labour-intensive, having to water greenhouse and garden plants daily but high temperatures demand it. Developing vegetables and fruit-bearing trees would struggle without a regular supply.

However, we can help by bulking-up containers with soil-based composts to improve water-holding capacity. Moisture retaining organic matter, dug into light soils also helps, as does creating a barrier between the soil and sun by laying a deep mulch.

Weathered stable manure surrounds the base of all our top and soft fruits, shrubs and roses. This helps retain soil moisture, keeps the temperature down and suppresses weeds.

Roses respond to this treatment with sturdy growth and quality flowers. ‘Olivia Rose Austin’ came up with the first welcome flush of blooms last week and others are about to join in. Keep deadheading for season long continuity.

Summer months bring a stem cuttings bonanza for gardeners.

There’s a diversity of new plant growth soft and ready to form roots given the least encouragement.

Many will do so in a glass or jar of water, reference the side shoots removed from our rapidly developing tomato plants recently. They rooted within a fortnight and are now in two litre pots.

Various herbs and ornamental shrubs are currently dripping with similar soft young shoots and I’m making the most of the opportunity by ensuring they are fully charged with water at the outset.

Best time to remove them from the parent plant is early morning before the sun fully engages and drains their moisture content. Even then I have a bucket of water to immerse them in for an hour or so before they’re planted in gritty compost. Floppy cuttings struggle to survive!

But do remember when tending the containers, you can overdo it!