How to water your plants through a Karachi summer

Karachi summers put more stress on a garden than any other part of the year. Temperatures stay high well into the evening, humidity swings, and pots dry out far faster than beds.

## Water early, water deeply Water before 8am wherever you can. A deep soak two or three times a week encourages roots to grow downwards; a light daily sprinkle keeps roots near the surface where the heat is worst.

## Pots need more attention than beds Terracotta and small containers can dry out in a single afternoon. Group pots together, move them out of harsh western sun, and check the top two inches of soil with your finger before watering.

## Mulch is the cheapest improvement you can make Two inches of bark, compost or dried leaves over the soil slows evaporation dramatically and keeps root temperatures down.

## Signs you are getting it wrong Yellowing lower leaves and constantly damp soil mean too much water. Crisp brown leaf edges and soil pulling away from the pot mean too little.