Watering know-how

It’s been a very variable spring – but the weather in the south-east of England, where I live, has been very dry. As increasing numbers of us are metered, it’s worth minimising the water you use in the garden over the next few months.

Some plants, such as vegetables, newly planted shrubs and trees and plants in pots will need regular watering, but avoid using a sprinkler or a watering can with a rose.

Direct the hose or watering can spout directly to the roots of the plant. The RHS recommends watering either early in the morning or late in the evening because there’s less chance of water evaporating in the sunlight.

Also, give the base of a plant a good soaking every two to three days rather than a quick sprinkle every day. In spring, I only water on Sundays, because the weather isn’t too hot, and picking one day of the week means I don’t forget it.

You’ll need to water newly laid lawns almost daily in their first summer. (“Even when it’s raining,” one garden designer told me!)

Otherwise, lawns can be allowed to go brown and will bounce back. An increasing number of gardeners are noticing that when they reduce mowing and allow the grass to grow longer, then the grass seems much more drought resistant.

So, if you do have a drought this summer, it can help to put the mower away or cut grass less often. A brown lawn also looks better longer – shorter lawns look a bit bald when they’re brown.

When growing plants in pots, get the biggest pots you can. Small pots dry out quickly, especially if they’re dotted about. The wind dries them out, so you can minimise this by keeping them in a group. Larger pots hold more water, requiring less frequent watering.

It helps to add water retaining granules, such as Miracle Gro Moisture Control gel, Phostrogen Swell Gel or Westland Water Saving Gel.

At the end of the season, you can dispose of the granules in your compost or on your soil, where they will ultimately break down. They won’t improve the water retention of a border, however.