Tips for keeping your garden hydrated in hot weather

In the UK we can't rely on long hot summers, but when we have periods of high temperatures our gardens quickly dry out and us gardeners go into watering mode to protect our precious plants.

However, we all know that water is a scarce resource. Using water that could be used for drinking water to water our flower beds is not going to be sustainable, and hose pipe bans are a regular occurrence.

If you need some tips for keep your garden hydrated in hot weather, read on...

Reduce watering frequency, increase saturation

Watering every day is not the key to a healthy garden. Think of how long it takes water to sink down far enough to get to the deep roots of some of your plants or trees.

Instead, water every 2 to 3 days but give the soil a really good soak to ensure the water is getting to the roots

where it's needed.

The other benefit of this is that if you give a quick spray of water over the garden every day this surface water will quickly evaporate from the soil in hot sun and be wasted.

Regular, shallow watering can also encourage roots to stay near the surface of the soil and not stretch downwards into the deeper soil which will create a healthier plant.

When to water?

The time you choose to water your garden can influence the effectiveness of your watering.

Try to water between. early evening to early morning. Watering in the middle of the day when the sun is at its hottest will cause the water to evaporate more quickly.

Watering in the evening or at night time will give the water a long cool period of time during which to sink into the soil and for the roots to soak it in before it gets hot again in the morning.

Water the soil, not the plant.

Try not to hold the hose or watering can over the leafy upper parts of the plant but direct the water onto the soil at the base of the plant. Water on the leaves of a plant will do nothing to help the roots soak up water and is likely to evaporate - it can also cause the leaves to scorch in the sun.

Mulch the soil

Adding a layer of mulch to the surface of the soil will help prevent water evaporating and keep moisture in the ground where it's needed . Studies have shown mulching the soil can reduce water evaporation by up to 60%.

Hemp and bark chips perform well in preventing water evaporation from garden beds.

One consideration is that buying bags of mulch can be expensive. However, grass cuttings are a completely free resource if you have a lawn, and these can be added to your garden beds to help reduce weeds and retain moisture.

Of course, the grass cuttings are also full of nutrients that will feed the soil over time.

Some tips for grass mulching:

• Allow the clippings to dry out a little before using to preventing matting.

• Don't use thick layers of grass as this can cause matting and encourage slugs - thin layers will dry out more quickly and work better.

• This is best used when you have cut short grass that contains no grass seed - don't mulch long grass with seeds or your flower beds will become lawn.

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For style, bark mulch (above right) is one of the best, and lasts for a long time before breaking down into the soil.

Install an irrigation system

If life is busy and you find it hard to find time to stand and water the garden, an irrigation system can be set on a timer to ensure water gets where it's needed on a regular basis. This can actually mean using less water in the long run too.

Drip irrigation can get water directly to the roots where it's needed.

Just 10 minutes a night can greatly benefit the garden with little to no effort.

Choose drought tolerant plants

One of the best ways to reduce the amount of watering needed and increase the health of plants in hot summers is to choose plants that naturally thrive in these conditions. Choose plants from mediterranean or antipodean regions, for example, that are used to hot dry spells.

You will need to do some research to make sure the plants you choose will also withstand the colder British winters.

Grow plants in the ground, rather than in pots.

Pots will tend to dry out much more quickly than garden beds and will require you to water them more often.

If you do have plants in pots, try to use plant saucers that will hold onto some of the excess water and allow the plant to soak this up over time as it's needed - less waste.

Move pots to the shade during hot weather if possible to help stop them drying out.

Be sustainable

Try to harvest grey water where possible - this is water from washing up, showering and baths. If you are on a water meter, the cost of watering your garden can be very high. Be creative with how you use water in the home and find ways to recycle this water in the garden.

There are some do's and don’ts with using grey water in the garden - do some research and see if this could work for you.

Further to sustainability, watering with a watering can will mean less water waste than with a hose - and you will build up your step count for the day!