I’m a master gardener – free way to make sure your plants survive while you’re on holiday… don’t make the same mistake
A MASTER gardener has revealed the best way to make sure your plants survive while you’re on holiday.
David Domoney says holidaymakers make one major mistake when they jet off and leave their leafy friends behind.
The celeb gardener says most of the time plants are “killed by kindness” – not neglect.
Speaking on ITV’s This Morning he said the worst thing people can do is leave their plants in a pool of water before they leave.
He explained: “Water is absorbed by the compost through capillary action, just like dipping a corner of a bit of tissue into water.
“It rises up, saturates, removes the plant’s ability to take up oxygen and what happens… the roots then rot.
“And they don’t come back, it’s very difficult with a plant that’s completely died through. Overwatering is the bigger killer than under.”
Mr Domoney explained what people should do instead – and it doesn’t cost a penny.
He explained: “Put the towel at the bottom of the bath… put the plug in. I don’t put water over the top of the towel just so that they’re heavy.
“Take the pot cover off, of course, so the bottom of the container has got its holes in. You sit it on the damp towels and go away on holiday.”
“It absorbs enough moisture from the towel but it’s not sitting in water. Baths are usually white so it reflects a lot of light which is good for the plants.
“The water evaporates and creates a nice little microclimate for the plants so when you come back from your holiday refreshed and revitalised – they’ll look better than before you went away.”
It comes as Mr Domoney previously revealed the best ways to get rid of weeds with no fuss for a gorgeous garden.
The quickest and most efficient way will always be to use your hands, according to the pro.
Get stuck and and pull the weed straight out of the ground with a firm grip.
If you’ve got an old hoe laying around they can be great tool to get rid of weeds quickly without a fuss too.
For more stubborn weeds like dandelions just cutting the top off wont do, you’ll have to fully dig the roots out to make sure they don’t come back.