Watering plants during the hot summer months can be a tough task, especially when you’re on holiday – but a gardener has shared his simple trick that’ll keep them hydrated while you’re away
Summer can prove a testing period for your garden, so it’s crucial to make arrangements before your getaway to ensure your beloved plants don’t wither in the scorching and arid conditions. One of the primary methods to achieve this is ensuring your greenery remains well-watered whilst you’re absent.
Whilst one approach might be requesting a neighbour or dear friend to tend to your plants, this may not always prove practical. To assist, gardener Simon Akeroyd has revealed his preferred technique for ensuring your plants and blooms stay properly hydrated during your absence – requiring nothing more than a length of string and a watering vessel.
“Watering plants while on holiday,” he captioned the footage whilst displaying a ball of string for his audience to observe. He proceeded to demonstrate how this straightforward ball of string could assist in maintaining your plants’ hydration throughout the sweltering summer period.
The initial step involves filling a container, such as a watering can, with water.
Once completed, Simon continues by cutting ‘a few lengths’ of string.
The subsequent stage requires soaking these lengths in the water, ensuring they’re thoroughly saturated and have absorbed the moisture.
“Important, place water above the plants that need watering,” he noted in the clip, demonstrating how he positioned the watering can upon a stone with various plants arranged on the ground beneath. Next, secure all the string pieces around a weight, like a stone, before lowering it into the base of your watering can.
Ensure you keep hold of the lengthy string sections in your other hand and don’t allow them to drop with the weight.
“Place individual strings into the pots,” Simon explained for the following step, demonstrating how he had positioned his strings so they each reached a different plant.
Rather than simply ensuring the strings reach the plants, he encourages gardeners to position them by coiling the ends on the surface before inserting the tips into the compost.
“The string acts like a moisture wick,” he revealed.
“With water travelling down the string when the compost is dry.”
Viewers were eager to share their reactions to the clever trick in the comments section, with many expressing amazement.
“Great video, great tip! It’s a real pleasure watching your content, thank you!” one person commented, whilst another added: “I do this with house plants too. Particularly bonsai trees.”
Nevertheless, some questioned whether it was necessary, suggesting: “Just get a neighbour to do it.”
