Watering pots while away

[Nadal]

We are away for a few days next week and I notice it is going to be warm.

I don't have anyone to come to water all our outside pots. What is the best way to attempt to keep them alive? I can move them near to the house to keep mostly in shade and can sit them in a large shallow container of water. Is this likely to be too much water?

Argh I have no idea.

You can buy pointed plastic things that screw onto an old lemonade bottle. They have a small hole in the end and you just fill them with water and push them into the compost.

I tend to group them all together in the shadiest part of the garden, fit the sprinkler to the end of the hose, position the sprinkler nearby, and then set the hose on a timer to come on in the evening- I just have a cheapie one that I bought from Home Bargains that does the job well.

I’ve always done what you say, in the shade in a container of water. Roots take more than a few days to rot.

Along with the other tips you could mulch the pots if you haven't already. It helps keep moisture in the soil when it's hot. I use gras clippings, I normally have to refresh them every 4 weeks or so as the grass breaks down, but I've always got a supply of grass clippings every time I mow the lawn! I've been doing it for my tomatoes in this hot weather and it seems to help.

Also, you may have already considered this but my village has a few teenagers that'll come and water once a day for £10 or so. Normally a post on the village FB page brings a few volunteers.

Tell them exactly how much to water and that they only get paid if the plants are alive when you get back

They will be fine if you stand them in a container of water in the shade for a few days. It's also better if you can group them all together, which will help to keep the humidity up around them.