The UK has been in the grip of a seemingly never-ending heatwave for a huge chunk of the summer, leaving our gardens rain-starved and grass, plants, trees and flowers already looking less than their best
Monty Don is a garden guru(Image: Getty)
Summer holiday season has well and truly arrived — and millions of Britons are flying off for a fortnight in the sunshine.
Yet, one of the drawbacks of a delightful summer getaway with family or friends is the condition your garden might be in on your return home.
The UK has been experiencing a seemingly endless heatwave for a substantial portion of the summer, leaving our gardens parched and grass, plants, trees and flowers already appearing less than ideal.
Factor in a fortnight of neglect while you’re abroad and it could mean a rather disheartening sight when you arrive back from your holiday.
To compound matters, millions of UK households are also facing a hosepipe ban as water companies desperately attempt to preserve water supplies, reports the Express.
From 8 August, South West Water imposed a hosepipe ban on 1.8million households, including those in Devon, Cornwall, parts of Dorset and Somerset. This comes in addition to the ban which was already implemented in Mid and East Devon.
Areas supplied by Affinity Water, including Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Surrey, and parts of London and Essex, are already under a hosepipe ban.
Monty has some tasks you must do before going away(Image: Colin McPherson, Corbis via Getty Images)
Anglian Water has introduced one across the entire region it serves, alongside everywhere covered by Cambridge Water. In Wales, Mid and South Ceredigion, North Pembrokeshire, and North Carmarthenshire are subject to a hosepipe ban by Dwr Cymru Welsh Water.
Essex and Suffolk Water has also introduced a ban across its entire area, while South East Water has imposed one in Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire.
Southern Water has introduced a ban in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, while Thames Water has imposed a ban on the whole area it covers, including Greater London, the Thames Valley, Surrey, Gloucestershire and North Wiltshire.
However, there is no need to despair, as Gardeners’ World presenter and celebrated gardening authority Monty Don has some invaluable advice to help minimise the impact during those summer weeks when you’re unable to tend to your outdoor space yourself.
Writing on his blog, Monty outlined precisely what people needed to do to ensure their garden remained in excellent condition.
He said: “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.
“Mow the lawn, weed, and make sure plants are well supported. Pots are most likely to suffer in hot weather and an irrigation system is ideal, but at very least give them a good soak before you go. Ideally move smaller pots into the shade and group them together which will reduce evaporation.
“If you have sweet peas or vegetables ready to harvest ask friends or neighbours to come and pick them.”
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