UK Gardeners Advised To Try 'Knuckle Test' During Hot Weather
Though there’s a possibility of rain further into the week, as of now, much of the UK continues to enjoy what the Met Office describes as “dry, fine weather”.
It follows a long period of rain-free conditions – the driest spring in almost 70 years – that risks drying out your grass.
As a result, gardeners have been asked to consider avoiding mowing their lawn (or at least keeping it long), checking their garden for footprints, and placing a pan of water in their lawn.
The latter test is meant to show how much added water the hot weather draws from your garden, as it can be hard to work out exactly how much more H2O different plants and soils need.
But the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) said another “test” can help you to gauge when your plants need watering, too.
Touching a plant’s soil might not really tell you how much water it needs
Plants, particularly potted plants (terracotta ones in particular), are more prone to drying out in the heat.
But whether your plants are in the ground or a pot, touching the top of the soil isn’t likely to give you a reliable indication of how much water your plants have access to. Hydration happens at the roots, after all.
So, the RHS said, the best way to use a “touch test” to gauge your plants’ watering status is to go a little deeper.
“Push your finger down into the compost or soil to at least knuckle depth to see if it is damp, rather than just feeling the surface,” the society recommends.
This way, you get a more accurate feel for the soil and avoid running the risk of overwatering plants, which can prove fatal to them.
Gardener’s World writes that “a good soaking every 10 days is sufficient for many plants during a drought”.
What about grass?
There’s no need to water browning grass, according to Gardener’s World, as established lawns will recover when rain returns.
The RHS agrees, saying that irrigation is “a questionable use of a scarce resource for any other than high-quality lawns or sports turf”.
Other natural ways to retain moisture involve keeping your grass long, mulching parts of your garden, and planting drought-resistant plants.