Five cheap ways to keep your garden green and gorgeous
THE hot weather can play havoc with our gardens.
Turning on the hose pipe wastes water and adds to bills, but there are other ways to keep your garden green and gorgeous.
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WATER WISELY: Use a watering can, rather than a hose and douse plants early in the morning or in the evening to stop water evaporating before doing its job.
Aim the spout towards the thirsty roots rather than the leaves. Adding wood chips, straw or compost can help lock in moisture.
SLOWLY DOES IT: Make a home-made watering spike by taking an empty plastic bottle and carefully poking around five holes in the cap. Cut the bottom off the bottle and dig a hole around 10cm away from the plant you want to water.
Put the bottle into the hole, cap side down, and fill it with water.
It will slowly drip-feed the soil through the holes in the cap.
LEAVE YOUR LAWN: Keeping your grass green using sprinklers will cost your purse and the planet.
Experts recommend leaving your grass to go brown. It may not look its best, but it is dormant rather than dead.
As soon as the rain returns, so will your green lawn.
POOL RULES: Paddling pools can block sunlight and flatten the grass. which will struggle to recover.
Kate Turner, gardening expert at Evergreen Garden Care, advises shifting the paddling pool around to allow sunlight to reach the grass.
I transformed my garden patio into summer haven for less than £100 with cheap B&M buys including gadget to keep bugs out
'When it's time to empty it, avoid dumping all the water in one spot. Spread it around to prevent waterlogging and muddy patches.'
PRE-LOVED PUDDLES: Re-use household water in your garden. So-called 'grey water' from washing vegetables, washing up and even showering is fine.
Shampoo, soaps and washing-up liquid are generally harmless to plants.
Don't use grey water on vegetables and avoid washing-up water with food bits that may attract vermin.
All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability
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