Water your containers

1. If your pot has dried out, stand the whole container in a bucket or washing-up bowl of water and place it in the shade for around half an hour, until the compost is soaked through.

2. If you don't have a watering can fitted with a rose spray to distribute water evenly, place a piece of slate or old crock into the corner of the pot tilted downwards towards the plant and gently pour water on to it. Repeat in each corner.

3. Mix water retaining gels with compost prior to planting. The gels will swell to many times their own weight, releasing moisture to plants when they need it.