Action for JulyTop pre-holiday jobs
Water plants well before going on holiday
Five must-do jobs to get your garden ready
Water well
Give everything a thorough soaking to wet the soil deep down.
Try to avoid watering during the intense heat of midday unless your plants are wilting before your very eyes.
If you do have to water while the sun is high in the sky, be sure not to wet the leaves – droplets of water will act like a magnifying glass for the sun’s rays leading to scorching of foliage.
Deadhead annuals and perennials
Doing this means they'll produce new flowers for when you get back.
Hoe your borders
Make sure you hoe all your flowerbeds so weeds don’t take over while you’re away.
Move containers and pots into shade
Move pots
Move all your containers to a shadier spot to prevent them drying out too quickly or scorching in the sun.
Water them all well, and then mulch the surface of the compost to cut down on water loss.
A sheet of thick plastic, such as an old compost sack, topped with a layer of gravel, should keep the moisture sealed in.
Prepare your veg
Worried that everything will ripen when you’re away? Then delay the harvest for when you return.
Pick courgettes, beans and peas, no matter how small, to encourage more fruits.
Cut back herbs starting to flower and trim cut-and-come-again salads to 2cm.
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