Mulch will keep gardens moist even in the current drought, expert says

16:41 14th June 2011

A well-established garden with a good layer of mulch should be fine, even in the current dry conditions, an expert has said.

According to Helen Gazeley, creator of gardening blog Weeding the Web, even a dust mulch can be enough to retain the moisture required for healthy plants.

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

Ms Gazeley went on to point out that it is vital to keep an eye on young and tender plants at this point and to keep them watered twice a day to make sure they do not suffer.

Composting is the key to a happy garden, she continued, as this is the best way to ensure nothing goes thirsty.

"I am a very keen composter and the more compost you produce and get into the ground the more the ground hangs onto moisture anyway," she explained.