Gardening expert and TV presenter Alan Titchmarsh has warned gardeners to take care when watering their plots this spring. He revealed that many make a common error when tending to their plants.
With sunnier and drier conditions now upon us, gardeners must give their flowers, shrubs and vegetables a much-needed boost. Keeping on top of watering will not only help plants survive but flourish. Alan pointed out that many gardeners favour using a sprinkler hose when watering — a popular choice as it covers a large surface area and is easier than repeatedly filling watering cans.
However, the gardening guru warned that a widespread mistake is failing to use the sprinkler hose correctly. In his Gardening with Alan Titchmarsh TikTok video, he demonstrated how not to water your garden.
He held the sprinkler hose high above the plant, allowing water to reach the leaves rather than the base, before explaining: “This is how not to water.
“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 positioned the hose at the base of the plant. He added that some foliage getting wet is perfectly fine, provided you water at the plant’s base.
It allows the roots to absorb moisture as it penetrates the soil.
When pruning, it is essential to tell the difference between dead and old stems. Alan said: “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 follows a different set of rules; as Alan pointed out, they should not be cut down to knee height, as you would for 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 thinned out any overcrowded sections of his rose shrub.
Once trimmed, your shrub rose ought to be left with sturdy, healthy stems. Alan advises nourishing the plant with blood, fish and bone, after which the shrub will be “set up for the summer”.
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