I’m a gardening expert, my six tricks to prevent your plants from drying out during the holidays

You may be excitedly planning a week in the sun before summer ends, but for gardeners, that joy comes with concerns about how our plants will fare while we’re gone.

Make sure you water your garden thoroughly before you leave.

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Place the pots in the shade and place them close together to create a small microclimate.

You can always run a piece of string or a strip of material from a bucket of water to the plants.

And don’t forget to ask a friendly neighbor to stop by and water them, especially if the heat wave continues.

But if you’re still worried – and if it looks like the weather is going to be scorching hot again – there are some other great innovations that can help you and your plant friends get through the drier months.

From self-watering pots to irrigation systems, I present you six of the best for budget gardeners.

1.

Potting expert Elho has a range of self-watering inserts and pots.

You fill the insert with water, place it in the opening and the plant will absorb the water when it needs it.

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I would give it a maximum of two weeks holiday before you start to worry. Prices start from £8.49.

2.

Water cones work according to the same theory: they are small devices that you fill with water and stick into the ground.

The Range is available in a pack of six for £5.99.

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3.

POTR sells beautiful, flat-packed, recycled pots with a cord that allows water to be channeled from a reservoir at the bottom into the ground.

This is probably best for houseplants.

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Prices start at £16.

4.

Homebase offers self-watering balcony boxes, which feed the plants through the reservoir at the bottom.

This in turn is filled via a feeder tube. You can find them from £14.

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5.

Drip irrigation kits are normally very expensive, but this one, from Amazon, costs just £18.99.

Although there’s no timer on them (they cost about £20), it’s a comforting thought when you’re away.

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Make sure to test it before you go!

6.

B&Q has a self-watering tomato tower for £12.99, which comes with a planter, water well and four tiers for growing tomatoes, peppers, green beans, peas and blackberries.

There is a reservoir at the bottom that you can fill before you leave.

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THE T-RIFIC GARDENS OF CELEBS

GARDEN designer Tom Massey has developed a new YouTube podcast for green-fingered fans, together with former professional footballer Tayshan Hayden-Smith, founder of the non-profit organisation Grow To Know.

To introduce more people to gardening, the duo visits well-known names, such as actors, musicians and comedians, to talk about what gardening means to them.

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Tom told me: “Horticulture is often a specialism on television and radio, and that can be quite intimidating.

“We hope this makes it accessible to everyone, especially the younger generation. We talk to our guests about their connection to nature.”

T In The Garden is now on YouTube.

Recent reports have shown that wasp numbers are at an all-time low this year, which experts say could mean record numbers next year.

If you see a nest, stay away from it and have it removed by specialists.

Tip: The sweetcorn is almost ready now and you can plant poppies, cornflowers, larkspur and marigolds now to give you some colour next year.

Tip: IF your strawberries have stopped producing and are over two years old, cut off the shoots and cover them with compost. You can also plant them in pots to make new plants.