Are you worried about your plants wilting in the heat?

With the hot spell expected to continue for another two weeks, Sarah Squire, the deputy chairman of Squire's Garden Centres, offers her top tips on what you can do to keep your garden surviving the heatwave.

1 Water early or late

Water your plants early in the morning or late in the evening and be sure to give them a good soaking at their base. Avoid watering them during the hottest part of the day, as this will only scorch the leaves.

2 Water wisely

Did you know you can re-use washing-up or bath water once it has cooled down? You just need to make sure you don't water anything that you would eat without cooking first – for instance a lettuce or cucumber. A water butt is a good idea, in case we have a downpour, as you'll have free water on tap too.

3 Choose low maintenance plants

Hardy plants that need little watering could be a good option - options include Sedum, Hebe, Lavender, Eurphorbia, Cordyline or Ceanothus.

4 Mulch your plants

Water plants well and top dress them with compost. You can then cover this with mulch such as tree bark, which will ensure the soil stays cooler, and prevents it from drying out too much. Mulch has the added benefit of improving soil texture and helping to suppress weeds.

5 Don't cut the lawn

Avoid cutting your lawn if you can, or at the very least, don't cut it too short. Longer grass will tolerate the heat better.

6 Move pots into the shade

If you can, you should move your pots into the shade or underneath a sun umbrella - this is a particularly good move if you are going away.

7 Instant colours

If you're looking for a way to add some instant colour in your garden, why not buy some jumbo bedding plants, such as geraniums, or a ready-planted container? You can then sit back and enjoy the sunshine!

Tips courtesy of Squires Garden Centre