Oh, the sun! So glorious, so golden. We love a heatwave—rosé, sandals, freckles—but our gardens? Less so. What was lush and vaguely Chelsea Flower Show now looks like it’s auditioning for a post-apocalyptic desert scene.
But don’t panic, you don’t need a PhD in horticulture or an elaborate irrigation system. All you need are a few clever, slightly eccentric DIY tricks to help your parched plants cling onto moisture like it’s the last iced coffee on Earth. And no, none of them involve buying anything hideous or installing something that looks like it belongs in a science lab.
Here are five delightfully doable moisture-boosting hacks to rescue your garden- and maybe even impress your smug neighbour with the foxgloves.
1.Hydrate from the Kitchen: Sponge it Up
You know those old kitchen sponges you keep meaning to throw away? Don’t. Soak them in water, snip them up, and bury them in the soil around your thirstiest plants. They act like little reservoirs—soaking up water and then slowly releasing it when the soil gets dry.
Bonus: it’s weirdly satisfying. Like giving your dahlias a secret stash of Evian.
2. Mulch Like You Mean It
Yes, mulch sounds like a word someone uses to get out of a conversation, but it’s actually your garden’s best friend in a heatwave. Lay down a layer of bark chips, grass clippings, or even shredded newspaper (avoid the pages with political rants unless you want angry roses). It keeps the soil cool, reduces evaporation, and makes everything look a bit more “professional gardener chic.”
3. Indoor Plant Food – Not Just for Indoors
Now, this is the bit where I whisper a secret: indoor plant food is not legally forbidden from going outdoors. I’ve been sneakily using our Indoor Plant Food on my pots. It’s gentle, botanical, and my plants love it. A few drops mixed with water helps strengthen your plants so they can handle the heat like the stoic, leafy warriors they are.
Also, it comes in a chic little bottle that doesn’t make you feel like you’re dosing your hydrangeas with engine oil.
4. Terracotta Trickery: The Wine Bottle Method
If you’ve ever emptied a bottle of rosé and felt oddly proud, here’s your moment: fill it with water, stick it upside down into a terracotta pot, and let it slowly drip-feed your plant. It’s incredibly simple, suspiciously effective, and has the added benefit of looking pleasingly rustic, as if your garden is sponsored by a charming French grandmother.
Just make sure it’s pushed down firmly or you’ll find it dramatically toppled at midnight, scaring the dog.
5. Shower Time for Your Shrubs
When you take a shower, (or bathe your muddy child/dog/self), collect the leftover water—provided you’re using gentle, plant-safe products (any NNL product is safe!) then water your garden with it. Grey water may sound slightly apocalyptic, but it’s eco-friendly, free, and your tomatoes will think it’s Christmas. Or midsummer. You know what I mean.
You’ve Got This!
Talk soon,
B x