The UK is set to experience another dose of summer this Friday and Saturday, with temperatures expected to hit 29C in some parts of the country. While the sunshine may attract green-fingered Brits to their gardens, royal gardener Jack Stooks, who has looked after the gardens at Highgrove for more than 20 years, has shared some crucial gardening mistakes to avoid when temperatures are high.
Speaking to Betway, Jack discussed some of the most common gardening mistakes Brits make, and many of them happen when the sun is shining.
Watering plants
When the sun is shining, Jack explained that it is vital for Brits to make sure they do not water their flowers during the hottest part of the day. “The best time to water is very early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Ideally when the sun is not shining and never in direct sunlight,” he explained.
“Night watering is also good for the grass, but we also need to try to conserve water, so it is always important to keep that in mind.
“You should only water when necessary and not overwater, as this wastes water and can also leach nutrients from the soil that we need to improve plant matter, such as food or fertilizer.”
Planting new plants
While you may be tempted to get outside and add some color to your garden, Jack warns that it’s best to avoid planting new plants during heatwaves.
“Ideally, when it is too hot, you should not plant trees or bushes because planting them will expose their roots,” he explained.
“It’s best to plant them early or late in the season to get them well established. In general, I wouldn’t recommend planting anything in a very hot climate because you have to be very vigilant and careful about what you plant.
“If you plant things, you have to keep an eye on them and I suggest you only plant small things. If you have plants that were planted earlier this year, you have to water them very well when the heat is excessive.”
Cutting the grass
Again, while it may be tempting to pull the lawnmower out of the shed as soon as the sun comes up, Jack says to be careful.
The royal gardener explained: “When it’s warmer, you don’t need to cut the grass as short as you normally would. For example, if you cut it in three, you might want to cut it in four or five, depending on how you like it to look.
“You can do this regularly, but don’t cut the grass, especially when it’s dry – it may look a little yellow, but there’s nothing to worry about as it will grow back.”
Protect your plants from the heat
Finally, it’s also important to make sure that flowers and plants are protected from the heat. Jack said: “Any plants we have that don’t do well in the heat should ideally be potted up so they can easily be moved into shaded areas or replanted in shady spots within the garden. Some plants that don’t do well can even be brought into the house in a cool, shaded room as they will improve greatly that way too.”
