The vital error could harm plants rather than help them.
There is a right way to water your garden(Image: ArtMarie via Getty Images)
Beloved gardening expert and TV presenter Alan Titchmarsh has issued a warning to gardeners about a watering error to avoid this spring. With sunnier and drier conditions now upon us, gardens require extra attention to keep flowers, shrubs and vegetables in peak condition.
Keeping on top of watering is essential not just for a plant’s survival, but for it to truly flourish. Alan highlighted that many gardeners opt for a sprinkler hose when tending to their plots.
It is a popular choice given its ability to cover large areas with far less effort than repeatedly filling watering cans.
However, the gardening expert warned that most people are not using their sprinkler hose correctly. In a TikTok video for his Gardening with Alan Titchmarsh channel, he demonstrated exactly what not to do.
Holding the hose high above the plant so the water landed on the leaves rather than the base, Alan explained: “This is how not to water”, reports the Mirror.
Don’t water the top of your plant(Image: Tatiana Maksimova via Getty Images)
He added: “You go out there on a sunny day and you think ‘I’ll give the plants a really good soak’. But, you’re not giving them a really good soak.
“You’re just putting water on the leaves and flowers, and it’s going to evaporate from the leaves and flowers before it goes where it’s needed.”
Instead, Alan urged gardeners: “Get it down there,” as he lowered the hose to the base of the plant. He reassured viewers that some wet foliage is perfectly fine, provided the water is being directed at the plant’s base, allowing the roots to absorb moisture as it goes into the soil.
For those with roses in their gardens, Alan has previously outlined how these plants need specialised care, particularly during this time of the year. He said that rose shrubs should be pruned to ensure they look their best come summer.
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When pruning, it’s crucial to differentiate between dead and older stems. Alan explained: “Dead has no living wood on it at all. A lot of older stems have green, young ones coming out the top.”
Trimming shrub roses differs from other varieties; according to Alan, they shouldn’t be cut to knee height, as you would do with bush roses.
He said: “These [shrub roses] tend to be taller, so you tip them back and thin the framework out.” Alan removed weak branches and overcrowded sections of his rose shrub.
Following the trimming, your shrub rose should have only robust stems. Alan suggests nourishing the plant with blood, fish and bone, which will mean the shrub is “set up for the summer”.
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