A gardening expert has revealed the best way to keep plants hydrated during a heatwave and surprisingly, it doesn't mean more watering.

Geoff Stonebanks, 71, keeps hundreds of different types of plants in his multi-award winning garden in Seaford, East Sussex, and stresses the gardeners must prioritise hydration to keep foliage luscious and blooming.

The keen gardener suggests a reservoir method for maintaining a source of hydration for thirsty plants during the hot season.

One way this can be done by placing tin foil into the bottom of the plant pot and watering the garden less frequently but water for longer periods.

He also recommends placing your plants in shade because it will help them to remain damp and slow the rate in which they will dry out.

Geoff, who is a writer as well as an award winning gardener, said: 'Try not to frequently water the garden - instead do it less but water for longer periods.

'Short bursts of watering can mean it doesn't have the opportunity to sink into the ground before being evaporated.

'A heavy douse will ensure plant roots remain moist for longer.'

Geoff says by watering less gardeners encourage plant roots to push wider and deeper to reach the required moisture.

'Constant watering can cause roots to become lazy and remain near the surface, making them to be susceptible to harsh sunlight,' he said.

Geoff also suggests creating an inner reservoir within the container - to allow the plants to retain some moisture on sunnier days.

He said: 'How often do you go to water the pots on the wall and the water just runs straight through them, without giving the moisture chance to soak up into the compost and subsequently the plants?

'By creating an inner saucer, where excess water can flow over the side and through the hole at the base, you ensure some is retained to be able to be absorbed by the plants. 

'It works well with all containers, not just wall pots. I've been successfully using the idea for many years.

'Another good way to conserve water in container gardening is double potting.

'If you have one pot with a plant, place it inside a slightly larger pot, then fill the gap within the larger pot with soil and add moss or stones and pebbles on top.

'When you water, water both the plant and the soil around the first pot.'

Geoff adds that it's important to cover exposed soil to prevent moisture escaping - this not only locks water in but protects plants from slugs and snails.

He said: 'All the containers I use in my garden are finished off with a level of shingle or gravel over the top of the compost, once the flowers have been planted.'

Another tip is to use as big a containers as possible. 'More soil takes longer to dry out, so larger containers retain moisture longer than small ones.

'The same goes for garden borders, if you have trouble with your garden drying out, opt for a deeper beds that require more soil.

'You can ensure that you mulch all your exposed soil surfaces, especially in flowerbeds, making sure the heat does not draw the water out.'

Geoff has had a self-watering system in his garden for over 25 years which consist of three different ring mains and three automatic dimers.

He says it keeps the garden hydrated when you're not able to tend to your garden and it will help prevent plants from catching diseases.

Geoff said: 'As I had a demanding job it was important to have a means of hydrating the plot while I was busy.

'When I retired in 2004, I lifted the entire system and brought it with me to the coast and installed it at Driftwood to make life a little easier here too.

'Automatic watering systems can help keep the garden hydrated, especially if you are away for a few days in a hot spell.

'When watering, large amounts of water can tend to run off the soil surface, rather than being absorbed into the soil.

'For this reason, it's best to water slowly, allowing the moisture to soak into the soil and permeate down to the root level of the plants.

'The drip lines utilised with an irrigation system are a very slow and effective means of watering.'

His final tip is to make use of shade in the garden as it will help plants to remain damp and slow the rate at which they dry out.

Geoff said: 'I'm very fortunate to have a north facing rear garden, which means a great deal of available shade behind the house.

'It's the perfect location for a variety of plants and certainly aides water retention in excessively hot periods.

'Moving potted plants into a shady spot whilst you are away will help them to remain damp and it will really slow the rate at which they dry out.

'Alternatively you can utilise garden fleece to drape over plants in hot periods and give them some protection from the overhead sun.'

LIST OF GEOFF'S TOP TIPS

- Create a inner reservoir in container

- Cover exposed soil

- Use self watering systems

- Use shade

- Water plants less frequently but for longer periods