'I was a royal gardener - here's how to look after your garden during a heatwave

Keeping our gardens in top tip condition during a UK heatwave is no mean task, from wilting plants to worryingly brown grass. But that doesn't mean we should give up on our beloved yards when temperatures reach a scorching level.

Some areas across the UK are set to sizzle in a whopping 36C, making it hotter than some tourist hotspots, like Barbados. Other areas across the regions will feel the heat of 30C today, which follows the hottest start to Wimbledon on Monday that has been recorded.

As the UK heatwave continues, many of us will be spending time in the garden, albeit in the shade, to enjoy our tranquil outdoor space. But if your garden is looking a little worse for wear, thanks to the scorching heat, a former royal gardener has laid out some top tips to help it thrive.

Former royal gardener Jack Stooks, who worked at Highgrove for over two decades, says that while the sun helps promote plant growth and encourages us to spend more time outdoors, extra care is needed when it comes to looking after our gardens during high temperatures. Here's what the expert advises...

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Watering garden

Speaking on behalf of Genting Casino (www.gentingcasino.com), Jack explains the best time to water the garden. "Be careful when you’re watering your garden, and never water it when the sun is at its peak. Do it early in the morning or really late at night," he explains.

Cutting grass

Jack also explains how we should care for our grass, "Ideally, you shouldn't be cutting grass too low. If you can get away with it, leave it for a couple of weeks. Hold off for now, otherwise your grass will turn brown.

"Also, be careful when you put fertiliser feed on your grass. This could cause your grass to scorch and kill it off. These are the things that you don’t want to be doing, as they could be a complete detriment to your grass."

Attention to plants

When it comes to avoiding wilting plants, the expert has some valuable advice. He shares: "If you've got plants that need planting, try to hold off and not put them in unless they really need it. Otherwise, you have to go around and hand water them all in.

"With vegetables, because of this heat, you'll have to start looking at what needs extra care and attention. Vegetable-wise, if you're not cutting lettuce, for instance, they'll start bolting because of the heat. Sweet peas also need to be cut down, otherwise they just quickly turn into seed."

He adds: "Try and keep everything as shady as possible. Glasshouses, if you've got one, will need shading to stop everything scorching and burning inside. Keep windows open in the house to try and keep that ventilated, so you've got cold air coming in."

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