Drought-proof your garden this summer, expert suggests

According to Helen Gazeley, creator of gardening blog Weeding the Web, compost is the key to keeping plants fit and healthy in dry conditions, as it helps to keep any moisture locked into the soil.

“Compost – you just never produce enough but it makes a huge difference to just how drought-resistant the garden is,” she explained.

Ms Gazeley added that even a dust mulch can be enough to retain the level of moisture the inhabitants of a garden need to survive.

However, it is very important to be constantly vigilant with anything young and tender, as they can dry out in a flash.

Some vegetables and pots may need watering up to twice a day, she continued.

Her comments come after the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Environment Agency recently announced that parts of the Anglian region are now officially in a state of drought