While you are away

It is always great to be able to go away and have a holiday break, but there is nothing worse to come back to see the plants in the garden either dead or dying due to the lack of water.

If you are lucky enough to have some one that is very reliable to come and do the watering for you, then that is a bonus, but unless they are keen gardeners that understand how to water properly, they can do more damage.

Light sprinklings are not the way to go - infact this type of watering can kill plants because the roots turn upwards in search of the water and then get burnt resulting in the death of the plant.

Garden beds need a deep watering at least once a week if they are to survive.

Containers need to be watered every day during very hot weather - especially if the pots are made of clay.

Make sure the garden is well mulched to conserve moisture and if possible you can install a drip irrigation system to areas that are the most likely to suffer.
Water during the morning and never during the hottest hours of the day.

Plastic or glass bottles filled with water (caps removed) and inserted into the ground will slowly release water over the next few days and can really assist plants that need it,

Indoor plants can be put into self watering pots which have a wick that lies in the water at the bottom which goes up to the plant in the soil keeping the plant watered at all times.