Alan Titchmarsh has advised gardeners to stop watering plants that are "past their best" during the current heatwave, and to avoid watering lawns entirely, according to Gardener's World.
With hosepipe restrictions in place across much of the UK, many gardeners are unsure how to maintain their gardens during hot, dry conditions. Titchmarsh suggests focusing attention on plants that "is or has yet to flower" rather than those already past their peak.
Which plants to prioritise in August
Plants that should be prioritised during this period include dahlias, Japanese Anemones (Anemone hupehensis), Stonecrop / Sedum (Hylotelephium), Coneflowers (Echinacea), Panicle Hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata) and Asters (Michaelmas Daisies).
Titchmarsh also advises against watering lawns, explaining that watering grass stimulates growth that demands increasingly more water. Instead, gardeners should allow lawns to recover during autumn, and when cutting the grass, leave several inches remaining to help it appear greener.
Evening watering and container priority
Titchmarsh recommends watering plants in the evening, as this gives them "all night to take up the water." He also stresses that pots should be the main concern, saying "in hot, dry weather, make watering your containers the priority, as they dry out the quickest."
This period is also an ideal time to weaken stubborn perennial weeds such as bindweed and ground elder by removing the tops at soil level, and to remove annual weeds before they produce seeds.
Further heatwave forecast
The Met Office's long-range outlook for August 30 to September 13 indicates "a chance that late-season hot spells or heatwaves develop, especially in the south." September is expected to bring a combination of rainfall and warm periods, followed by "drier, more settled weather, especially in the south and east" during the latter half of the month.
The forecast said: "Temperatures will probably be near normal at first, but may turn warmer later with a chance of some hot periods in the south." The Met Office has also cautioned about potential thunderstorms and flooding throughout the early autumn period.
