LifestyleGardeningGardeningWith the UK set to be hit by another heatwave, it's important to make sure your plants are protected from the hot weather13:54, 10 Jul 2026With another heatwave on its way, gardeners the length and breadth of the country may be worried about keeping their plants alive during the scorching conditions. Fortunately, two straightforward tasks can shield your plants from the heat in next to no time.‌Gardener's World's Carol Klein has revealed some simple steps for safeguarding plants during periods of hot weather. In a video shared on Instagram, she said: "Well we're in a heatwave, and it's really tough going for us humans and also for our plants. Well you can't change the weather, so best thing to do is, first of all, watering."‌To get the most out of water, even when supplies are limited, Carol advises watering either first thing in the morning or during the late evening.‌Watering as the sun begins to set in the evening gives plants the best possible chance to absorb the moisture effectively.‌In addition to watering, mulching can offer vital protection for your plants. Carol says: "If you haven't already mulched your soil, trapping that moisture underneath, it's not too late."If you've got great compost, bung it on, or composted bark, anything like that, just to retain that water under the surface of the soil."As far as I'm concerned the very best mulch is plants. I tend to put plants close together. That way the soil hardly sees the sun at all and they'll stay as fresh as anything, indefinitely."Article continues belowIf you have plants growing in containers, simply relocate them first thing in the morning to shield them from the full force of the sun, then move them back overnight or keep them in a shadier spot until the heatwave has passed.Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌HeatwaveGardening