I’m a gardening pro – this is exact amount of seconds to water plants for during a heatwave & the best time of day

It’s been really hot this week and the plants are really feeling it.

High temperatures can cause wilting, leaf scorch, stunted growth and a reduced ability to photosynthesis.

Let your lawn go brown – if its healthy it should grow backCheck there’s no hosepipe ban in your area – if there is use a watering can

There’ s all sorts of way you can reduce the pressure on the to cope.

If you’ve got plants in – move them into the shade – and group them together – so they give each other protection.

Water early in the morning before it starts getting really hot – so it doesn’t all evaporate – or if that’s not an option – when the sun’s gone down.

However morning is the best option – as move around at night and love the damp soil.

It’s best to give them a really good soaking once or twice a week rather than a light water daily.

And experts reckon you should count to between 20 and 25 seconds as you water each plant – to make sure the water soaks down through the soil to the roots.

It’s not what we want – but there’s no problem with letting your go brown – if it’s healthy it will cope – and the green will return when there’s a bit of rain.

Raise your mower’s cutting level and let the cuttings fall as on the lawn – to keep in moisture.

Keep – so they’re not competing with the plants you want in your outside space.

Save and store any to reuse in your garden. If you don’t have room for a water butt – just leave a few brightly coloured buckets around to catch any rain.

Or you could splash out on a dipping tank – which looks lovely and stories water.

You could also set up an irrigation system – although these are costly – but a leaky hose can work just as well.

Choose drought tolerant plants like Agapanthus, Lavender, Geums and hardy Geraniums.