A gardening expert has revealed the best way to keep plants hydrated during a heatwave – and surprisingly, it doesn’t mean watering more.
Geoff Stonebanks, 71, keeps hundreds of different types of plants in his award-winning garden in Seaford, East Sussex, and stresses that gardeners should prioritise hydration.to keep the foliage lush and blooming.
The avid gardener suggests a reservoir method to maintain a source of hydration for thirsty plants during the hot season.
One way to accomplish this is to place aluminum foil in the bottom of the pot and water the garden less frequently but for longer periods.
She also recommends placing the plants in the shade because it will help them stay moist and slow down the rate at which they will dry out.
Geoff Stonebanks, 71 (pictured), has revealed his top tips for keeping plants hydrated during the summer season – and surprisingly, it doesn’t involve over-watering.
The keen gardener keeps hundreds of different types of plants in his award-winning garden in Seaford, East Sussex.
Geoff, who is an award-winning writer and gardener, said: ‘Try not to water your garden too often – instead, do it less frequently but over longer periods.
‘Watering over short periods can result in water not having the opportunity to sink into the soil before evaporating.
‘Abundant watering will ensure that plant roots stay moist for longer.’
Geoff says that by watering less, gardeners encourage plant roots to spread out further and go deeper to reach the necessary moisture.
“Constant watering can cause roots to become lazy and stay close to the surface, making them susceptible to intense sunlight,” she said.
Geoff also suggests creating an inner reservoir within the container to allow the plants to retain some moisture on sunnier days.
He said: ‘How often do you go to water pots on the wall and the water just runs straight through them, not giving the moisture a chance to absorb into the compost and subsequently the plants?
‘By creating an inner saucer, where excess water can flow over the side and through the hole in the base, you ensure that some of it is retained for the plants to absorb.
Geoff also suggests creating an inner reservoir (pictured) inside the container to allow the plants to retain some moisture on sunnier days.
An inner reservoir can be made by placing aluminum foil in the bottom of the pot and watering the garden less frequently but for longer periods.
Geoff has decorated his garden with a typewriter to create an interesting piece of decoration. As well as being the owner of an award-winning garden, Geoff is also a writer.
Everlasting plant in a reclaimed planter made from guttering in Geoff’s garden. He suggests that another way to keep plants hydrated is to place them in two pots.
“It works well with all containers, not just wall planters. I have been using this idea successfully for many years.
‘Another good way to conserve water in container gardening is double potting.
‘If you have a pot with a plant, place it inside a slightly larger pot, then fill the space inside the larger pot with soil and add moss or stones and pebbles on top.
‘When watering, water both the plant and the soil around the first pot.’
Geoff adds that it is important to cover exposed soil to prevent moisture escaping – this not only retains water but also protects the plants from slugs and snails.
He said: ‘All the containers I use in my garden are topped with a level of pebbles or gravel over the compost, once the flowers have been planted.’
Another tip is to use containers that are as large as possible. ‘The more soil, the longer it takes to dry out, so larger containers retain moisture longer than smaller ones.
‘The same goes for garden edging: if you’re having trouble with your garden drying out, opt for deeper beds that require more soil.
‘You can make sure to mulch all exposed soil surfaces, especially in flower beds, ensuring that the heat doesn’t draw out the water.’
Geoff has had an automatic irrigation system in his garden for over 25 years consisting of three different main rings and three automatic controllers.
Geoff’s stunning terrace garden. He recommends covering the pots with a layer of gravel to retain moisture and keep out insects.
A pot of flowers in Geoff’s beautiful garden. He recommends covering pots with a layer of gravel to retain moisture and keep out insects.
Its impressive garden also has palm trees that give an exotic touch to the garden.
A reclaimed vertical planter with a selection of cacti. Another tip is to use containers that are as large as possible. “Soil takes longer to dry out, so larger containers retain moisture for longer than smaller ones,” she explains.
For border plants, a deep bed is also a good idea, as more moisture will be retained for a longer period of time.
He says it keeps the garden hydrated when you can’t tend to it and will help prevent plants from getting disease.
Geoff said: ‘As I had a demanding job it was important to have a means of hydrating the plot whilst I was busy.
‘When I retired in 2004, I lifted the whole system and brought it with me to the coast and installed it at Driftwood to make life a little easier here too.
‘Automatic irrigation systems can help keep your garden hydrated, especially if you’ll be away for a few days during a heatwave.
‘When watering, large amounts of water tend to run off the soil surface, rather than being absorbed by it.
‘For this reason, it is best to water slowly, allowing moisture to penetrate the soil and reach the root level of the plants.
‘Drip lines used with an irrigation system are a very slow and effective means of irrigation.’
Her final tip is to take advantage of shade in the garden, as it will help plants stay moist and slow down the rate at which they dry out.
Geoff said: ‘I’m very lucky to have a north-facing back garden, which means plenty of shade available behind the house.
‘It’s the perfect location for a variety of plants and certainly helps with water retention during excessively hot periods.
‘Moving potted plants to a shady spot while you’re away will help them stay moist and really slow down the rate at which they dry out.
‘Alternatively, you can use garden fleece to cover plants in warm periods and give them some protection from the sun.’
LIST OF GEOFF’S BEST TIPS
– Create an internal reservoir in the container
– Cover the exposed soil
– Use automatic irrigation systems
– Use shadow
– Water plants less frequently but for longer periods.