13 JULY 2019AMATEUR GARDENING 5Easy divisions: Herbaceous perennials are at their peak
now, and in next week’s AG (in the shops 16 July) I show
you how to keep them going with care and dividing.Four essential holiday jobs
Make sure you come home to a happy garden, says Ruth
1
Cluster pots together somewhere
sheltered and shady to reduce the
rate of water evaporation and cut up
old towels for a ‘wick’ system.2
Weed well before you go, so
you don’t come home to a thicket
of unwanted greenery stealing your
plants’ water and food.3
Returning from holiday is bad
enough without finding a garden of
dead blooms. Cut off flowers before you
go to encourage new buds and blooms.4
If you can, lay a soaker hose
through your most important
beds. Set it on a timer, and it will then
slowly release water in your absence.Summer weather can turn on a
sixpence, so always make sure your
garden is prepared to withstand the
worst eventualities.
Make sure young trees are
securely staked, and that there is no
danger of long branches splintering
and snapping under the weight of
too much fruit.
Also ensure that if they were to
break and fall they won’t cause injury
to anyone or structural damage to
nearby property.
Tall, whippy plants and those with
delicate stems, such as delphiniums,
should also be staked to avoid
upsetting breakages.
Containers should be stood
squarely on pot feet so they don’t
wobble and topple, which allows
excess rainfall from summer squalls
to drain away quickly.Avoiding
problems
Make sure young trees are
securely supportedTimed irrigation is an easy way to water while away
TIMED irrigation systems, which are
supplied by many leading garden
brands, take the stress out of
watering the garden, whether
you’re at home or away.
They comprise
thin lengths of flexible
hosepipe that can be cut
to the required length
and attached to small
drippers. You thread them
around the pots, growbags
and borders that need the
most watering.
This system is linked to a timerattached to an outside tap. You set the
timer to release water when needed.
Some timers can be linked
to a smartphone and will
keep you updated with
the weather back home,
allowing you to alter
irrigation timings
from your poolside
sun-lounger!
You can also buy
porous soaker hoses
(which slowly release drops
of water along their length)
to attach to a timer.Control how much water is delivered
to your plants, and when brands, take the stress out of
watering the garden, whetheraround the pots, growbagsThis system is linked to a timerSome timers can be linked
to a smartphone and will
keep you updated with
the weather back home,
allowing you to alter
irrigation timings
from your poolside
sun-lounger!porous soaker hoses
(which slowly release drops
of water along their length)
to attach to a timer.Irrigation controlled by
a computerised timerAvoiding
problems
Place containers
on pot feet