Mulching

Placing a layer of organic material, about 3cm thick on the soil surface will block weeds and slow down moisture loss through evaporation during hot days. Weekly, deep watering is necessary to encourages the growth of deeper water-seeking roots; otherwise the plants only develop roots close to the surface, where they quickly dry out. This way the soil stays moist for longer and your plants can survive hot, dry spells.

Grouping herbs according to water requirements

Group your herbs together according to their water requirements to minimize the need to water all the time and to improve their growing conditions. Herbs that require less water and can grow in full sun include: lavender, rosemary, thyme, sage and bay leaf. These are woody, hardier plants. Herbs that will do better with either direct morning or afternoon sun and requires more regular watering during very hot periods include: basil, parsley, coriander and rocket. These are soft leaf plants that wilt easily. This makes watering easy during hot periods as you can quickly water the spot where you have grouped the thirsty plants together.