There were more than 17,000 high school sports transfers recorded last school year in California, and one of the most bizarre involved Chaminade offensive lineman Harout Agazaryan.
On a Monday in January, he checked out of Chaminade. On Tuesday, he began classes and football practice at Burbank High. By Tuesday afternoon, when his mother picked him up after football practice, he told her, “I don’t think it’s the right place for me.”
“You’re probably right,” she said. “How do you feel? Do you want to go back to Chaminade?”
“Yes,” he said.
On Wednesday morning at Starbucks, he met with Chaminade football coach David Machuca and asked to return.
By Thursday, he was back at Chaminade in the same classes. He felt awkward, but his teachers joked, “You missed me already?”
It took courage to ask for a second chance, and what a decision it has turned out to be. Five times this season, Agazaryan has been named a team captain by his coach. The 6-foot-3, 255-pound senior been a standout offensive tackle and defensive lineman.
“He’s been amazing,” Machuca said. “You talk about a kid that did a 360. He’s representing what I believe is important to being a captain — dedication, holding people accountable. He’s doing everything right.”
There’s so many lessons to be learned from Agazaryan’s experiences.
“The grass isn’t always greener where you go,” he said. “I discovered there’s not many places better than Chaminade.”
It was his parents who gave him the green light to transfer even though they wanted him to stay.
“Honestly, at the time, I had a lot of friends [at Burbank],” he said. “They were texting me every day. I wasn’t doing very good academically here. I thought I needed a restart.”
He quickly determined he was wrong. But would he have a chance to return to his old school?
One of the most important decisions he made was to have a conversation with Machuca before he left. So many times, students and their parents don’t even inform the coach they are leaving.
“I feel you have to leave on good terms because I know teammates that left last year that didn’t talk to coach Machuca at all,” he said. “I felt as a man, I had to talk to him.”
That earlier discussion made Machuca open to welcoming Agazaryan’s return as long as parameters were followed.
“I actually told him when he was leaving I’m really happy we’re at the point of having a conversation,” Machuca said.
The second chance has not been wasted.
“It’s been way better,” Agazaryan said. “I feel when I came back, my head switched. I was a way better person, better in the classroom, better on the field. I felt I was controlling my emotions more.”
Coaches have been complaining that it’s harder to coach players these days, because they know if someone takes something they say the wrong way, they immediately think about transferring to another school.
Agazaryan warns, “Don’t ever burn your bridges because you never know what will happen. Just because one thing bad happens doesn’t mean you should take your stuff off and leave. You have to build a relationship with everyone on the campus, then you’ll really be happy.”
IF you’ve managed to end this summer with a lush green lawn, and no unexplained bald patches or a depressing brown sheen – then well done you.
The majority of people I’ve spoken to have been left with grass that’s definitely looking a bit under the weather (literally).
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Jonny Hincks is a self-taught gardener and fireman with 2m instagram followersCredit: SUPPLIED
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Jonny’s four step plan to transform your lawn will see it flourish for the AutumnCredit: Charlotte Wilson
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Johnny’s lawn in full splendour at the end of this summerCredit: SUPPLIED
But fear not.
One of Britain’s biggest shorts-wearing lawn lovers has got some golden rules for Sun Gardening to whip that outside space back into shape.
Jonny Hinks – AKA @gardenwithjonny on social media – describes himself as a self-taught gardener, firefighter and full time garden obsessive from Warwickshire.
And with nearly two million followers on instagram alone – it’s not just his comedy videos that have caught the attention of garden lovers everywhere.
His lawn is spectacularly well maintained – and even in the midst of one of the hottest summers on record, it still managed to look a lot better than most.
“It’s nice and moist, the soil is warm from the summer. So in terms of germination for grass seed, it’s just the perfect conditions.
“And it’s also a good time because the grass is still growing and if you get it all sorted now – the roots will be established enough to take the Winter cold that’s on its way.
“Everyone’s lawns have been suffering and turning brown from all the sun – and although it will come back if it hasn’t already, there’s a few things you can do now to help it along.”
FEEDING
“Be careful you buy the right feed. What you need now is high potassium Autumn feed, which helps the grass improve its root strength.
How I transformed my lawn and why now is the time to do it
And low nitrogen – as you don’t want too much leaf before Winter as there’s a risk if it’s too leafy it will be prone to disease.
SCARIFY
“This is like exfoliating your face. Basically you just need to take off all the moss and thatch, which is a layer of dead grass and roots – and too much of it prevents water and nutrients from reaching the grass.
It lets the lawn breathe, which is so important. I use a battery-powered scarifier, but there are manual ones, or you can use a rake.
Go diagonally in one direction and then again in the other direction. It’s a great work out
AERATE
“This is when you create air pockets within the lawn which reduces compaction, and like scarifying, allows water and nutrients to penetrate the earth.
“This makes for better root systems. I don’t like using a fork or aerating shoes for this – that just spreads the soil apart.
“Instead I have a tool a bit like a fork, but with hollow tines, that takes plugs out the lawn.”
TOPSOIL AND SEED
“As soon as I’ve finished all these jobs – I scatter a covering of grass seed over the area – and then cover with a thin layer of topsoil.
“I have been known in the past to do a mix of both together, but I’ve found this way works well. And then water, of course.”
Also in Veronica’s Column this week…
Top tips, Gardening news, competition and Plant of the Week
FOR more gardening content, tips, news and competitions, follow me @biros_and_bloom
PLANT OF THE WEEK! Nemesia Melody Morello Ice – still bringing colour to your garden now – this lovely Nemesia is totally hardy, with masses of dark green foliage, flowers from March to October, perfect for filling baskets, containers, beds and borders and has a sweet scent. Grow in moist well drained soil in sun or partial shade.
JOB OF THE WEEK! Prune climbing and rambling roses, remove any leaves covering pumpkins to get them ripe for halloween, if you’ve got rotten apples on the tree, remove them to prevent disease.
TOP TIP! It can be confusing as to which bulbs should be planted when – so here’s a few tips. This month – September – you can go for early spring-flowering bulbs like daffodils, hyacinths and crocus. Especially daffodils – as it will help with their root establishment. You can also get hardy summer flowering bulbs like Alliums and Lillies in now as well. None of the above mind the soil still being warm. But wait until November for Tulips – as they much prefer the colder soil to get them going. Always plant bulbs in groups to get a better display. And they like the warmth and sun – so keep that in mind. Try and plant them three times the depth of the bulbs – this is when a sturdy bulb planter comes in handy.
TOP TIP! If you’ve noticed dead patches, loose turf and even holes appearing in your lawns, you could be under attack from Leatherjackets – the destructive larvae of crane flies, AKA daddy long legs. They feed on grassroots and seedlings, and can also attract birds, badgers and foxes that dig up turf in search of a snack, adding to the damage. But there is help at hand. Nowadays you can basically water in a beneficial nematode – called Steinernema feltiae – which are basically microscopic worms that naturally target and kill leatherjackets. They enter the grubs body and then release bacteria that kill the pest from within. Sounds grim, but it works. There aren’t many brands on the market – I’ve used Nemasys, which was great – but you can also find them from Dragonfli and Dobies online.
TOP TIP! Clean out old pots to make sure they don’t have old compost/bits of dead plants – that can hide pests and diseases over winter and check online to see if you’ve got local recycling – some garden centres take them.
NEWS! Great Comp Garden’s Bulbs N Things Autumn fair has doubled in size this year. Taking place at the seven-acre Kent garden, it will have a huge range of unusual bulbs, including dwarf iris, crocus, anemone, hyacinth, erythronium, fritillary, hermodactylus, leucojum, muscari, puschkinia, scilla and more. There will also be gardenware, handmade gifts, rare and unusual plants and curated sellers at the two day event October 11 and 12.
WIN!! Two lucky winners will receive a Westland Autumn Lawncare bundle worth £100 each – including feed, seed, a scarifying rake and aerator. To enter visit www.thesun.co.uk/WestlandAutumn or write to Sun Westland Autumn Lawncare competition, PO Box 3190, Colchester, Essex, CO2 8GP. Include your name, age, email or phone. UK residents 18+ only. Entries close 11.59pm. September 27, 2025. T&Cs apply
Canadian Denis Shapovalov, the number 27 seed at Wimbledon, was knocked out by Argentina’s Mariano Navone in the first round.
He was broken six times by his opponent as he suffered his earliest exit at the tournament since 2019.
“The balls are the worst, the grass tour has turned into a joke,” he said after his defeat.
“This isn’t grass anymore, the court is slower than a clay one. It’s not even grass.”
Two-time champion Petra Kvitova said things had changed over the years.
“I’m not sure if it’s only grass,” she said after her final appearance at the All England Club ended in a defeat by 10th seed Emma Navarro.
“Maybe it’s the balls, as well. Overall it’s getting slower.”
Eight top-10 seeded players have exited in the first round – the highest tally at a single Grand Slam event in the Open era.
Among those to be knocked out was American third seed Jessica Pegula, who said the courts at Wimbledon “felt different” but added: “That’s grass – they’re all kind of different. It’s a living surface, they’re not going to play the same.”
Poland’s former world number one Iga Swiatek, who beat Russian Polina Kudermetova 7-5 6-1 in her first-round match, feels the Wimbledon courts are playing slower but expects things to change in the coming days.
“It [Wimbledon] was slower, and kind of more slippery with the movement,” she said.
“But also with the heat and everything the ball bounced differently than how it will in the coming days, so I’m not really focusing on that.
“With the change of the weather we will have to adjust every day to the different conditions.”
WIMBLEDON 2025 is almost upon us! The third and most prestigious slam of the year as the tennis and sporting world centres around SW19.
It is the only Slam to be played on grass courts, and features timeless traditions.
Many clay court greats have struggled when moving onto the grass, although current men’s champion Carlos Alcaraz has mastered both surfaces – he won the French Open and Wimbledon in 2024 and will bid to complete another double this year.
He’ll look to become only the fifth player of the Open Era to win three titles in a row in SW19 after Bjorn Borg, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.
So, without further ado, let’s take a look at some of the latest Wimbledon betting odds and make some Wimbledon predictions for 2025!
🎾 Wimbledon 2025 quick tips
Waiting for the match to start? 📺 Keep up the live action with bet365 live casino! 👇
Who’s in form ahead of Wimbledon?
Carlos Alcaraz laid down a marker ahead of his Wimbledon title defence by winning the big warm-up event at Queen’s Club.
He was quickly back at it following his French Open success but didn’t look jaded as he stretched his unbeaten streak to 18 matches.
In contrast, his big rival Jannik Sinner lost in the second round in Halle to Alexander Bublik, who went on to claim the title and could be a dark horse in SW19.
Briton Jack Draper made the semis at Queen’s before losing to Jiri Lehecka, who was a big eyecatcher in west London.
On the women’s side, world number one Aryna Sabalenka was beaten in the Berlin semi-finals by former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova, who looked ready for another shot at the big one after winning the title in the German capital.
No stopping in-form Alcaraz
Time for some Wimbledon tips!
Carlos Alcaraz is undoubtedly the man they all have to beat at Wimbledon 2025.
The Spaniard arrives in SW19 on an 18-match winning streak, a run which included successfully defending his French Open title and winning at Queen’s Club on the grass.
Alcaraz has been there and done it in terms of Wimbledon too – as two-time reigning champion, he will bid for a hat-trick this year.
He served well and his forehand dictated many points at Queen’s so he looks a worthy favourite coming in here.
His price won’t suit everyone though and others will be tempted by Novak Djokovic’s odds of around 6/1.
The seven-time champion would love to equal Roger Federer’s record of eight titles at the All England Club and he’s been saving his best tennis for the biggest events at the latter end of his career – in the past 12 months, he’s won Olympic gold, reached the Wimbledon final and also two other Grand Slam semis.
The problem is he’s too often found someone just that bit better (usually Alcaraz or Jannik Sinner) so it might be worth looking at someone at longer odds.
Jiri Lehecka was very impressive at Queen’s and notably that tournament has a strong record of acting as a springboard for Wimbledon success of late.
In 2021, Matteo Berrettini won Queen’s and then made the final in SW19. The man he beat in the final, Cam Norrie, also made the semis of Wimbledon that year.
In 2023, Alcaraz won both events and last year, Lorenzo Musetti went from the Queen’s final to the Wimbledon last four.
The way Lehecka was playing last week, he could add to that trend. He’ll likely need a little luck in Friday’s draw but he could contend.
WTA world number one Aryna Sabalenka will go off as the title favourite at Wimbledon but she’s yet to reach the final in SW19 and has been beaten in both Grand Slam finals so far this season.
Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek have also failed to make the final here so far, so arguably 2022 champion Elena Rybakina is best placed from those towards the top of the market.
She wasn’t far away from beating Sabalenka in Berlin recently, losing only in a final-set tie-break. If she is able to stay fully fit (which admittedly has been a problem in the past), the big-serving Kazakh will have a great chance.
However, with some big-priced winners emerging in the women’s singles in recent years, it may well be worth focusing your betting strategy on someone further down the Wimbledon tennis betting list.
Elina Svitolina has been a model of consistency in the Slams since returning to the WTA Tour following the birth of her daughter – a quarter-final run at the recent French Open was her fifth such appearance in nine Slams as a mother, none of which have seen her lose before round three.
At Wimbledon, she’s made two semi-finals in her last four visits – and played in the quarter-finals last year – and isn’t fazed by playing on a grass court.
Her ability to get down to low balls is among the best around – watch that low crouch she produces – and her counter-punching style has proved effective on courts that tend to bounce a bit higher than they once did.
A Briton has won the men’s doubles title in each of the past two years – Neal Skupski in 2023 and, last year, Henry Patten.
Patten and Finnish partner Harri Heliovarra added the Australian Open title to their CVs earlier this season and should challenge again.
However, it could be two British players who rise to the challenge in 2025, namely Lloyd Glasspool and Julian Cash. The pair, who both came through the US college system, have already won three titles on the ATP Tour this season, including the Queen’s crown on grass, and sit fourth in the calendar-year ‘Race to Turin’ heading into Wimbledon.
Away from the Brits, Marcelo Aravelo and Mate Pavic (a former champion with a different partner) look set to be the top seeds but the new Aussie pairing of Matt Ebden and John Peers could be a better-value bet.
The pair are something of a scratch pairing – Ebden had planned to play with Jordan Thompson – but they’ve played together before, notably at last year’s Olympics where they won gold.
The pair also won on grass at Eastbourne in 2024. A repeat could occur at Wimbledon 2025.
Hewitt can win again in SW19
Great Britain has been something of a superpower in wheelchair tennis over the past decade with Alfie Hewitt and Gordon Reid dominating in men’s doubles – they’ve won eight of the last nine Grand Slams as a pair.
Reid is a former Paralympic champion in singles but Hewitt has taken over as the nation’s leading player and will bid to a 10th singles Slam at Wimbledon 2025.
He completed the career Grand Slam by winning this title 12 months ago and looks likely to battle it out with main rival Tokito Oda this time around.
Oda won the other three Slams in 2024m the Paralympics and the recent French Open but Hewitt’s home advantage can swing things his way on the lower-bouncing grass.
🏆 Recent winners of Wimbledon
Carlos Alcaraz has been the dominant figure in the men’s singles over the past two years, beating Novak Djokovic in both finals. Djokovic had won four in a row before then – seven in total – and you have to go back to 2016 to find the last Wimbledon final not involving the Serb.
No Briton has won since Andy Murray in 2016, although Cameron Norrie made the semis in 2022. Jack Draper – the host nation’s big hope this year – is yet to go beyond round two.
In contrast to the men, the last seven ladies’ singles titles have been won by seven different players. Last year, Barbora Krejcikova was a surprise winner, following in the footsteps of her fellow Czech, Marketa Vondrousova. Prior to that, Elena Rybakina was the champion and she’ll be among the favourites this year.
Emma Raducanu has twice made the last 16 in the past four years but Johanna Konta (2017) remains the only British woman to make the semi-finals since the retirement of 1977 champion Virginia Wade.
Briton Henry Patten and partner Harri Heliovarra are the defending men’s doubles champions, while Katerina Siniakova (for a third time) and Taylor Townsend won the ladies’ title in 2024. The mixed doubles, in which Briton Neal Skupski is a two-time champion, went to Jan Zielinski and Hsieh Su-wei.
📈 Wimbledon betting markets explained
Match winner
The simplest form of tennis betting – who will win a specific match? For example, back Carlos Alcaraz to beat Jannik Sinner.
Handicaps
Handicap betting brings the odds on each player close together. One player is handed a head start of a certain number of games or sets. The other has ‘the handicap’ of giving up that start. For example, back Djokovic (+3.5) to beat Alcaraz on the game handicap. If Alcaraz wins four more games than Djokovic, he is the market winner. If he fails, Djokovic does.
Total sets/total games
You bet on how many sets or games there will be in a match. The sportsbook sets certain ‘lines’, one specific example would be 37.5 games, and you decide whether there will be more of fewer games than that line. If you go more, back the ‘over’ option; fewer and it’s ‘under’.
Set betting (scores)
A bet on what the match score will be in sets. For example, Iga Swiatek to beat Aryna Sabalenka 2-0.
Tournament winner & outrights
In outright markets, you are betting on the outcome of the tournament, rather than a specific match or matches.
👉 How to bet on Wimbledon
Most bets these days are placed online and most bookmaker websites make it easy for you to do so. It’s usually a simple process:
Don’t have an account? Just head to the bookmaker’s website (you can find some of the best tennis sites here) and click on ‘register’ or ‘sign up’. You’ll need to provide personal details and then make a deposit via payment method before you can place a bet. Some firms have sign up offers. For example, BetMGM currently have a ‘bet £10, get £40 in free bets’ scheme available.
Once registered, head to the tennis section – most Wimbledon betting sites list all their sports in alphabetical order via a menu if it’s not immediately obvious – and then look for the Wimbledon betting odds.
Pre-tournament, outright markets should be available and, once the draw, has taken place various match markets will be produced. Browse through these to find the option you want to back.
Once you have made your decision, click on the selection (or its odds) and your pick will be added to the betslip, which should appear on screen – it is often on the right-hand side. Choose you stake, check everything is correct and then click ‘place bet’ or the equivalent. Now you can sit back and enjoy the action – and hopefully some winnings!
📺 How to watch Wimbledon
Every match of Wimbledon 2025 will be available to watch live on BBC platforms, whether that be on its digital TV channels or online via BBC iPlayer or the BBC Sport website.
In addition, daily highlights will be available on TNT Sports and its discovery+ streaming service. Having swept up the Eurosport brand in the UK, TNT Sports will also show both singles finals live (sharing coverage with the BBC).
About the author
James Anderson
James Anderson is a Betting & Gaming Writer at The Sun. He is an expert in sports betting and online casinos, and joined the company in November 2020 to work closely with leading bookmakers and online gaming companies to curate content in all areas of sports betting. He previously worked as a Digital Sports Reporter and Head of Live Blogs/Events at the Daily Express and Daily Star, covering football, cricket, snooker, F1 and horse racing.
For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.
You could argue that Nevada City peaked 170 years ago, along with Charles Darwin, Herman Melville and Queen Victoria.
But we’re still talking about them all. And Nevada City, 60 miles northeast of Sacramento in the Sierra foothills, is reachable without a séance.
In the 1850s, it grew from a miners’ outpost into a Gold Rush boomtown of 10,000 (heavy on the bars and brothels) before anyone got around to naming that other Nevada as a territory or a state. Today it lives on as a tiny town with a lively arts scene and a liberal bent, home to about 3,200 souls.
Perhaps because there’s so much to escape from these days, Nevada City and its larger, more middle-of-the-road neighbor Grass Valley have been drawing more visitors than ever lately. Nevada County’s hotel and vacation rental tax revenues have doubled in the last five years to a record high.
“A lot of people are coming up from the Bay Area and settling up here because Nevada City is in a lot of ways like the Bay Area,” said Ross Woodbury, owner of Nevada City’s Mystic Theater. “It’s a very blue town in a very red region.”
If you’re from elsewhere, it’s easy at first to overlook the differences among these Gold Rush towns. Once your feet are on the ground, however, the distinctions and fascinating details shine through — as do historic rivalries.
“Nevada City thinks it’s a little better than Grass Valley and Grass Valley think it’s a little better than Nevada City. I don’t think that’s ever going to change,” said restaurateur John Gemignani, standing by the grill of the Willo steakhouse in Nevada City.
“That’s never going to change,” confirmed his wife, Chris Gemignani.
Nevada City’s intimate size, upscale shops and throwback 19th century architecture alone are enough to win over many people. Its downtown is a 16-acre collection of more than 90 historic buildings, cheek by Victorian jowl. Say you have breakfast at Communal Cafe, lunch at Three Forks Bakery, dinner at Friar Tuck’s, a drink after at the Golden Era. You haven’t even hit 1,000 steps for the day yet, unless you’ve been dancing to the live music that often fills the area. (One night, I stepped from Spring Street into Miners Foundry — an 1856 landmark now used as a cultural center — and found about 200 locals gathered for a community sing, a chorus of Beatles-belting Boomers.)
For those who seek higher step counts, forested foothills and miles of trails wait outside town, along with often-perilous springtime whitewater and summer swimming holes along the South Yuba River. And in surrounding hill country, the Empire Mine and Malakoff Diggins, once the major employers (and polluters) of the region, now serve as state historic parks. The Beat Generation poet Gary Snyder (95 years old and well represented on the shelves at Harmony Books on Main Street) still lives on a ridge outside town.
Meanwhile, four miles down the road from Nevada City in Grass Valley, changes are afoot. The Holbrooke Hotel (statelier sibling to Nevada’s City’s National Exchange Hotel) reopened after a dramatic renovation in 2020. Soon after, spurred by the pandemic, the city closed busy Mill Street to cars, making it a permanent two-block pedestrian promenade full of restaurants, bars and shops.
About This Guide
Our journalists independently visited every spot recommended in this guide. We do not accept free meals or experiences. What should we check out next? Send ideas to [email protected].
Still, if Los Angeles moves at 100 miles per hour, Foggy Mountain Music store clerk Pete Tavera told me, “Grass Valley is like 60.”
Both towns preserve their mining heritage, and when you stroll through them, you can just about hear echoes of those raucous Gold Rush days. Here’s a little more of what I learned during a three-day visit:
In the early days of the Gold Rush, most of the area’s mine workers lived in Grass Valley while the owners, bosses and other white-collar people built their upscale Victorian homes in Nevada City, the county seat.
The Great Depression of the 1930s never really reached this corner of Gold Country, because the big hard-rock mines kept on producing gold.
In 2024, when a company tried to restart gold mining at the nearby old Idaho-Maryland Mine, residents of Nevada County, which includes Nevada City and Grass Valley, rose up and the county board of supervisors shut down the idea, citing environmental risks. These days, it seems, Nevada County wants to remember gold mining, not live with it.
Because everybody needs a break now and then, here is a closer look at 15 essential spots, starting in Nevada City, continuing with Grass Valley.
LAST week saw the hottest day of the year so far, when temperatures hit an incredible 33.2C in Charlwood, Surrey.
Chances are you were drooping in the heat, with low energy levels, unattractive sweating and a high possibility of sunburn.
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There are many ways of heat-proofing and protecting your gardenCredit: Getty
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The Sun’s Veronica Lorraine reveals how to help your outdoor plants this summer without splashing outCredit: Arthur Edwards / The Sun
Well guess what?
When your garden hits over 32C, much the same is happening to your plants.
They lose water through their leaves faster than they can absorb it, causing wilting, while the leaves themselves can get scorched.
They can also stop growing, as their energy levels are reduced.
But in the same way we splash water on ourselves, stay indoors and apply liberal coatings of suntan lotion, there are many ways of heat-proofing and protecting your garden.
And all of them are cheap or free – and very straightforward.
BE CLEVER WITH POTS
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Group your pots and move them into the shade so that they give each other protectionCredit: Getty
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B&M currently have some lovely light pink planters for just £2Credit: B&M
If you’ve got plants in pots, move them into the shade and group them together, so that they give each other protection.
Light coloured pots are best for container planting as they reflect the heat and sunlight, which in turn keeps the soil cooler and less prone to drying out.
Darker pots will absorb the heat, drying the contents much quicker and stressing the plants more.
B&M currently have some lovely light pink and pale green planters for just £2, while B&Q are selling deep white pots for £3.
Grow your groceries – how to grow tomatoes from tomatoes!
It’s worth remembering that pots – and hanging baskets – dry out really quickly in the heat and need much more watering.
When the weather’s this hot, water them daily if you can, giving them a really good soak.
Larger pots retain moisture better, so won’t dry out as quickly.
And while terracotta pots look lovely, they dry out much faster than other pots.
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B&Q are selling deep white pots for £3Credit: B&Q
DON’T BE A WATERING WALLY
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The best time to water is early in the morning so the water doesn’t evaporate
There’s a knack to watering in a heatwave – one of the most important tips to remember is not to water in the daytime.
The best time is early in the morning, before it starts getting really hot, so the water doesn’t evaporate. If that’s not an option, water when the sun’s gone down.
Morning is best, though, as slugs move around at night and love the damp soil.
And don’t water all over the plant, however tempting it is to remove the dust and return the leaves to their glossy former selves.
Aim directly for the roots, as wet leaves can cause fungus to form and, in really extreme cases, magnify the sunlight onto the leaves and cause scorching.
But mainly, it’s just a waste of water.
And give them a really good soaking once or twice a week, rather than a light water daily.
Experts reckon you should count to between 15 and 20 seconds as you water each plant to make sure the water soaks down through the soil to the roots.
LET LAWNS GO BROWN
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Remember there is no problem with letting your lawn go brownCredit: Getty
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Johnson’s Nature’s Lawn with Mowable Wildflowers (£12.99) creates a lovely blanket of bloomsCredit: Johnsons
It may not give the lush, healthy look that you’re looking for, but there is no problem with letting your lawn go brown.
If it’s healthy, it will cope and the green will return when there’s a bit of rain.
Also, if you’re currently thinking of laying a lawn, aim for a much hardier native lawn seed, like fescue.
This will withstand extreme heat a lot better than some of the more trendy varieties.
It’s also worth considering a lawn seed that’s mixed with wildflower seeds. Johnson’s Nature’s Lawn with Mowable Wildflowers (£12.99) creates a lovely blanket of blooms if you’re letting it grow longer in the heat.
It’s also best to raise your mower’s cutting level and instead of collecting cuttings, let them fall as mulch onto the lawn to keep in moisture.
TRAP WASTE WATER
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Using a water butt connected to roof drainage means you can store rainwater to reuse in your gardenCredit: Getty
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Argos currently sells a standalone 100 litre butt, with a tap and connecting kit, for £28
Save and store any rainwater to reuse in your garden.
A water butt connected to roof drainage is probably the best option, as it will capture all your rainwater run-off from the pipes.
But a stand alone butt is a great addition to any garden.
There are all sorts on the market at the moment, including ones that attach to walls, which are great for smaller gardens as they don’t take up valuable space.
Argos currently sells a standalone 100 litre butt, with a tap and connecting kit, for just £28.
If you don’t have room for a water butt, just leave a few brightly coloured buckets around to catch any rain.
Or, if you’ve got just a few pots around your garden, you could invest in some cheap self-watering plant spikes, which you fill up with water and stick in your planters.
They release water slowly, reducing the need for a daily soak.
Temu has a set of five for £2.97 – so just 60p a pop.
If you’re feeling spendy, you could splash out on a dipping tank.
They’re beautifully designed and act as an elegant water feature for your garden, as well as creating valuable water storage.
The Dipping Tank Company has a 60cm tank for £395 – not cheap, but it will last a very long time.
You could also set up an irrigation system, although these are also costly. A leaky hose can work just as well.
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Temu has a set of five self-watering plant spikes for £2.97Credit: Temu
CREATE A SHADY OASIS
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Create a shady oasis in your garden with just a few productsCredit: Getty
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Dunelm’s Elements Grey Sail Parasol is just £15Credit: Dunelm
With a bit of careful planning you can create a beautiful, calming escape in your garden with just a few choice products.
A sail shade is a quick, cheap and easy way to zone off a corner of your garden.
Dunelm’s Elements Grey Sail Parasol is just £15 at the moment.
Put garden furniture underneath it to create a lovely, cooling retreat. Dobbies Esme bistro set in green is currently on sale for £79.20, instead of £99.
You can surround the area with pots of fast-growing bamboo, which will not only add shade, but a lovely calming sound as the wind rustles through the leaves.
It’s best to keep bamboo in pots, otherwise it spreads underground and can cause real problems. You can even be fined if it spreads to your neighbours’ gardens.
Or you could plant banana trees in planters to create a natural shady barrier around your seating area. They grow really fast and add a proper exotic, tropical vibe, while also protecting you from the sunshine.
YouGarden are selling Musa Basjoo, aka Japanese banana plants, for just £9.99 at the moment.
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Dobbies Esme bistro set in green is currently on sale for £79.20Credit: Dobbies
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YouGarden are selling Musa Basjoo, known as Japanese banana plants, for just £9.99Credit: YouGarden
WATER GOOD IDEA
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Hydria Life sells lovely pipe-less moveable fountain systems that fit in any pot of 30cm for £99Credit: Hydria
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Or you could buy solar powered fountains from Amazon for just £6.98
Why not add a calming, cooling water feature to your garden?
Studies have shown that the soothing sounds of moving water can reduce stress, lower cortisol levels (a stress hormone) and promote relaxation.
Hydria Life offers lovely pipe-less moveable fountain systems that fit in any pot of 30cm or more for £99.
You can also buy solar powered fountains that you just pop in a dish of water, birdbath or pond from Amazon for just £6.98.
As well as helping you feel more chilled out, water features attract wildlife, including birds, insects and butterflies, helping to boost your garden’s biodiversity.
They’re also known to help block out unwanted background noise, such as traffic sounds.
PLANTS TO BEAT THE HEAT
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Lidl has 40 litre bags of decorative bark chips for just £3.49Credit: Lidl
On a recent gardening trip to Venice, where it was topping 27C daily and only going to get hotter, there was a definite planting plan.
In many of the gardens I visited there were agapanthus, pittosporum, lavender, wisteria, jasmine, fig trees and great big Fatsia Japonicas.
They were bursting with colour, but most importantly had been planted because they could withstand the heat.
Other plants that will work well in UK gardens include geums, sedums, achillea, hardy geraniums, rosemary and salvias.
Remember to mulch your plants, which means covering the soil around them with a thin layer of protective material.
This could be wood chippings, well rotted manure, gravel, shredded leaves or special garden mulch.
It keeps the roots cool and moisture locked in, while also preventing weeds that can compete for water.
Lidl has 40 litre bags of decorative bark chips for just £3.49.
