GINA PARKINSON has watering advice for a hot and dry spell.

HIGH temperatures so far this month have made watering the main priority in the garden - and, if you are going away, organising someone to do this in your absence.

Watering is best done in early morning or later in the evening when the heat has died down and the garden is in shade. This reduces moisture lost through evaporation and stops scorch damage to leaves, which happens when strong sun shines on wet foliage.

However if watering has to be done when the sun is high, it is best to sort out a drooping plant straight away rather than leaving it for a few hours. Soak the soil around the plant carefully and thoroughly, avoiding as much of the plant as possible.

Pots and newly-planted specimens need to be attended to first, as they will dry out the quickest. Hanging baskets, containers and window boxes may need seeing to twice a day during very hot weather, especially if they are in sun most of the day.

Water-retaining granules incorporated into the soil at planting time will lessen the amount of watering required, but it is still a good idea to check regularly, particularly as the plants mature and fill every bit of space in the pot.

If you are going away, move pots to a shady part of the garden and give them a good soaking just before you leave. Add a liquid feed to the water if there are no slow-release capsules; and dead-head or cut back messy or over-grown plants. With luck they will have more flowers by the time you return.

Updated: 16:28 Friday, August 08, 2003