Tips for keeping plants well watered

Alison Patel writes: Gardeners should not panic about predictions of a dry summer because last year's downpours mean there is enough water to go around.

That is according to garden designer and writer Alice Bowe, who has said that "large trees and deeply rooted garden plants" will still be able to soak up the moisture from 2008.

Writing in the Times, she advised gardeners concerned about a drought to mulch their borders and pots to limit evaporation.

She said green-fingered enthusiasts should hold off planting new borders until autumn when there is likely to be more rain.

Ms Bowe also suggested mixing "water-retaining gel" into compost added to pots, window boxes and hanging baskets.

The most effective measure, Ms Bowe said, is to encourage plants to "send out deep roots" by watering them heavily once a week.

This way, they will be able to survive for "weeks or months", she said, unlike plants with shallow roots which will wilt quickly.

Hanging baskets can be dunked in a bucket of water to ensure they are fully soaked, according to advice from the Royal Horticultural Society.

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