Gardeners' World presenter Monty Don has shared essential advice for Brits heading off on summer holidays: prepare your garden before you leave to ensure it survives your absence.
With the UK enduring a prolonged heatwave and many regions under hosepipe bans, gardens are already stressed. Two weeks without care could leave them in a sorry state upon your return.
Monty's key preparation steps
Writing on his blog, Monty advised: "If you do get away prepare the garden so that it will still look good when you get back - especially if it will be left for two weeks."
He recommends mowing the lawn, weeding, and ensuring plants are well supported. Pots are most vulnerable in hot weather; an irrigation system is ideal, but at the very least, give them a thorough soak before departing. Move smaller pots into shade and group them together to reduce evaporation.
Hosepipe bans across the UK
From August 8, South West Water introduced a ban affecting 1.8 million homes in Devon, Cornwall, parts of Dorset and Somerset, adding to an existing ban in Mid and East Devon. Affinity Water areas (Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Surrey, parts of London and Essex) already have restrictions, as do Anglian Water and Cambridge Water regions.
In Wales, Dwr Cymru Welsh Water has banned hosepipes in Mid and South Ceredigion, North Pembrokeshire, and North Carmarthenshire. Essex and Suffolk Water and South East Water (Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire, Berkshire) have also imposed bans, along with Southern Water (Hampshire, Isle of Wight) and Thames Water (Greater London, Thames Valley, Surrey, Gloucestershire, North Wiltshire).
Friends and neighbours can help
Monty also suggests enlisting help for crops: "If you have sweet peas or vegetables ready to harvest ask friends or neighbours to come and pick them." This ensures produce isn't wasted and plants continue to thrive.
