Are you ready for gardening leave?

GOING AWAY? TAKE STEPS NOW SO YOUR PLOT WILL THRIVE

- DAVID DOMONEY

OFF on a UK break, foreign holiday or weekend escape this August? While you're switching off, your garden still needs a little forward thinking.

These easy tips will keep your plants healthy, hydrated and happy while you're away.

Bathroom retreat for houseplants

Before you leave, gather your houseplants into the bathroom. Line the bath with soaked towels, pop the plug in, and place the pots, out of their decorative pot covers, on top. Not in standing water, just resting on the damp fabric. This creates a humid microclimate, ideal for ferns, orchids, and other indoor plants that thrive in moist air.

The white surfaces reflect natural light, so plants will be content in your absence.

Pre-holiday tidy and feed

Give your garden a once-over. Remove weeds, deadhead bedding plants like cosmos and petunias, and give everything a good soak. Weeds left unchecked can quickly run to seed or compete with plants for water and nutrients.