This is proving to be an unusually dry and hot summer in Britain, which will likely be welcomed by most people! It does make it more important to keep your garden well hydrated though. Just as you need time to relax on your Outback reclining chairs with a cold drink, so your plants and lawn need to be refreshed too. Here is how to do just that.
Test the soil first
The best way to check if watering is needed is by testing the soil. You can do so by poking your finger a few inches in, close to the stems of your plants. The reason this is necessary is because a dry surface can be deceptive. What you want to find out is whether there is moisture further down. If there is not, it will be time to start watering.
Water the right area
When you begin to water the plants, be careful how you do so. Focus on watering them at their base, rather than just pouring it over them. Soaking the vegetables, fruits or leaves can actually be counterproductive, because the moisture leads to diseases like powdery mildew.
Water them consistently
Watering your plants needs to be done on a consistent basis, because the moisture will dry up very quickly. You should never leave vegetable or fruit plants until they have dried up before watering – not if you want good results. Dryness will cause issues such as blossom end rot.
As you can see, it is easy to help your plants survive a hot summer so that they can enjoy it just as much as you!
