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YOU might be excitedly planning a week in the sun before summer is out, but for gardeners, that elation is tinged with worry about how our plants will cope while we are away.
Make sure you give your garden a good drench before you go.
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And move your pots into the shade, putting them all together so they develop a little microclimate.
You can always place a piece of cord or strip of material to run from a bucket of water into the plants.
And remember to ask a friendly neighbour to pop over and water them, too, especially if the heatwave we’ve been having holds up.
But if you are still concerned — and if the weather looks set to be scorching — there are some other great innovations that will help you and your plant pals cope during the drier months.
From self-watering pots to irrigation systems, I bring you six of the best for budget gardeners . . .
1.
Pots experts Elho have a range of self-watering inserts and pots.
You can fill the insert up with water, pop it into the opening, and the plant will take water as and when it needs it.
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I’d give it a maximum two-week holiday before you start to get concerned. Prices from £8.49.
2.
Watering cones work on the same theory — they’re just little gadgets you fill with water and stick in the soil.
The Range has a pack of six for £5.99.
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3.
POTR sell lovely flat-packed, recycled pots that come with a cord to transport the water from a reservoir at the bottom into the soil.
This is probably best for indoor plants.
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Prices start from £16.
4.
Homebase is offering self-watering balconniere troughs, which feed plants by the reservoir at the bottom.
That, in turn, is filled via a feeder tube. You’ll find them from £14.
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5.
Drip irrigation kits are normally super pricey, but this one, from Amazon is only £18.99.
It doesn’t come with a timer, though (they cost around £20), but it will go some way to reassuring you while you’re away.
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Just make sure you test before you leave!
6.
B&Q have a self-watering tomato tower for £12.99, featuring a planter, water well and four levels for growing tomatoes, peppers, runner beans, peas and blackberries.
There is a reservoir at the bottom to fill before you go.
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CELEBS’ T-RIFIC GARDENS
GARDEN designer Tom Massey has developed a new YouTube podcast for green-fingered fans – along with ex-pro footballer Tayshan Hayden-Smith, founder of non-profit group Grow To Know.
In a bid to introduce more people to horticulture, the pair visit household names, such as actors, musicians and comedians, to chat about what gardening means to them.
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Tom told me: “Horticulture is often quite specialised in TV and radio, and it can be quite intimidating.
“We’re hoping this will open it to everyone, especially the younger generation. We talk to our guests about their connection with nature.”
T In The Garden is on YouTube now.
RECENT reports claim that wasps are at record low numbers this year – which, experts say, means there could be bumper levels next year.
If you spot a nest, steer clear and get specialists to sort it out.
Offer
IT’S already time to start thinking about bulbs to plant for next year.
Hayloft Plants is offering Sun Gardening readers an exclusive deal.
You can get 15 FREE Narcissus Tete a Tete, right, worth £12, when you buy an Ultimate Allium Mix. The 50-bulb pack is £20, and the 150-bulb one is £30.
Each collection of 50 has five nirgundi, five christophii and ten each of sphaerocephalon, oreophilum, hollandicum and cowanii.
Delivered next month.
To order, visit hayloft.co.uk/ROSU or call 01386 554 440.
Tip: Sweet-corn should be about ready, and you can plant poppies, cornflowers, larkspur and marigold now to get a bit of colour earlier next year.
Learn
I BOUGHT a Rose Port Sunlight Bush rose for my friend. It’s in a large pot with a lot of buds on it.
But when they open, they only flower for a day and they die.
Vera Protano, Glossop
I’ve spoken to David White from Harkness Roses, who reckons it’s a lack of nutrients and recommends your friend uses a foliar feed through spring and summer to strengthen the stems.
Tip: IF your strawberries are no longer producing and are more than two years old, cut off runners and compost, or pot them up to create new plants.
Save
GET watering with this extendable 30metre hose at £34.99 from Magic-hose.co.uk, or get one from Robert Dyas, for £14.99.
Win
PLANT-POT innovator Elho is giving four readers the chance to add gorgeous greenery into their homes with its sustainable and stylish jazz collection and self-watering innovations.
Each winner will receive a 26cm jazz pot, a 24cm self-watering insert, an aqua care watering system and a b.for soft watering can. Each set is worth £58.
Enter at thesun.co.uk/ELHO or write to Sun Elho Comp, PO Box 3190, Colchester, Essex, CO2 8GP.
Include your name, age, email or phone.
UK residents 18+ only. Entries close at 11.59pm, August 31, 2024. T&Cs apply.
