August is well underway, which means our gardens are in full bloom – albeit a little parched following weeks of hot, sunny and dry weather (and a hosepipe ban in place for many).
With this in mind, award-winning garden designer and Country Living columnist Jo Thompson says she's taking a “common-sense approach” to the long list of late-summer garden jobs, leaving more time to enjoy the garden.
But one job that cannot be ignored is helping thirsty plants. “At this time of year, it’s watering cans at the ready,” she writes. “Pots and hanging baskets need the most attention: water regularly, deadhead as you go and feed fortnightly with tomato fertiliser to keep them flowering.”
Jo also shared more watering can advice with us, including one small detail many gardeners overlook: the way is the rose (the cap with holes) facing.
Turn the watering can rose upwards
It’s easy to assume the rose should point straight towards the soil. Instead, turn it upwards.
Pointing the rose upwards makes the flow “gentler and more easily controlled”, Jo explains. She recommends this method “when you’re watering more fragile plants and seedlings, which could get damaged otherwise”.
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Know when to remove the rose
Not every plant suits the same technique, though. For thirsty crops such as tomatoes and courgettes, Jo recommends removing the rose and watering at the base so the water reaches the roots directly.
Pour slowly, especially when the compost is very dry, as water applied too quickly may run off the surface or drain through the pot before it can be absorbed.
Choose plants that need less water
Choosing plants that cope with longer gaps between watering can make containers easier to manage during a dry spell.
“I try to water as little as possible,” Jo says. “Plants I have in containers are things like salvia, erigeron and scabious which can go without water for days.”
Keep a watering can by the sink
Keeping a watering can by the kitchen sink makes it easier to reuse suitable household water before it disappears down the plughole.
Jo recommends: “Have a watering can near your kitchen sink so you can pour water from the bowl in the sink into the can.”
Use this water on ornamental plants rather than edible crops. Avoid water containing bleach, disinfectant or strong cleaning products and use it within 24 hours.
Get the job done in the morning
Jo’s final tip is simple: “Water in the morning.”
In cooler morning conditions, less water is lost to evaporation and plants have moisture to draw on as the day warms up. It also gets the job done before the can starts to feel twice as heavy.
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