Gardens by Millicent

10/08/2026

06/08/2026

03/08/2026

What shouldn't you be doing in the garden during a heatwave and drought? RHS Chief Horticulturist Guy Barter shares practical advice on how to protect your garden, conserve water and help plants cope during periods of hot, dry weather:

🌱 Don’t splash water on plants: Apply enough water to thoroughly wet the root zone, aiming directly at the base of the plant. If necessary, create a shallow earthen ‘pond’ or basin around the stem to trap the moisture. Always water in the evening or early morning.

🌱 Hold off mulching existing plants: Adding mulch to established plants right now will actually delay rain from entering the soil when it finally arrives. Hold off and mulch once the autumn rains return. An exception is newly planted trees and shrubs, provided they have been well watered first.

🌱 Leave no-mow areas until autumn: If you have areas of long, hay-like grass, resist the urge to tidy them up just yet. The shade provided by the long vegetation is highly beneficial to wildlife.

🌱 Don’t delay summer pruning and deadheading: Keep up with routine deadheading and summer pruning. Removing spent flowers and lightly reducing excess growth can slightly reduce the amount of water plants need.

🌱 Don’t overwater: Water enough to keep plants alive, but show restraint. You should use water responsibly to avoid consuming more than your fair share during times of potential shortage. Prioritise your limited water supplies for vegetables, soft fruit and newly planted plants.

Discover 13 expert tips on what not to do during a heatwave and drought: https://www.rhs.org.uk/garden-inspiration/get-gardening/what-not-to-do-in-a-heatwave-and-drought

14/06/2026

Love the poppies, poppies and more poppies ❤️

07/06/2026

27/05/2026

I started working for this lady 3 years ago as she was finding it difficult to do some of the work in her garden. We have worked together since, shared ideas, visited garden centres and chatted over coffee. This garden has taken time but it’s beautiful now and the pollinators and birds love it too ❤️

26/05/2026

Really busy now but loving it ❤️🌻 My new customers this year are great and my regulars treat me like a friend. I love my job although the weather can be challenging at times ☀️🥶🌧️