Gardeners might not realise they are making the error
Many gardeners make a common watering mistake(Image: Guido Mieth via Getty Images)
Alan Titchmarsh has issued a warning to gardeners about taking care when watering their gardens this spring. The renowned gardening expert and television presenter highlighted a common error many people make while tending to their plants.
With sunnier and drier conditions now upon us, gardeners must provide their flowers, shrubs and vegetables with proper support. Maintaining a consistent watering routine will not only help plants survive but also flourish.
Alan pointed out that numerous gardeners favour using a sprinkler hose for watering. This is a popular option as it covers substantial ground and proves far easier than repeatedly filling watering cans.
But, Alan warned that a common error involves not using the sprinkler hose correctly. In his Gardening with Alan Titchmarsh TikTok video, the expert showed how not to water gardens, reports the Mirror.
Don’t water the tops of your plants(Image: Oliver Helbig via Getty Images)
He positioned his sprinkler hose well above the plant so the water hit the leaves rather than the base. Alan explained: “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 placed the hose at the base of the plant. He noted that some foliage getting wet doesn’t matter, provided you’re watering at the base of the plant.
This ensures the roots can absorb water as it sinks into the soil.
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If roses are in your garden, Alan has previously outlined how they need specialist care, particularly during this period of the year. He made clear that rose shrubs should be pruned properly if they are to look their finest come summer.
It is crucial to differentiate between dead and older stems when pruning. Alan said: “Dead has no living wood on it at all. A lot of older stems have green, young ones coming out the top.”
Pruning shrub roses follows different rules; as Alan pointed out, they should not be cut back to knee height in the way you would 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 from his rose shrub.
Once pruned, your shrub rose should be left with robust stems. Alan suggests nourishing the plant with blood, fish and bone, after which the shrub will be “set up for the summer”.
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