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Hot weather often catches gardeners by surprise, causing plants to wilt just when they should be starting their summer growth spurt. While we can walk inside and into the shade, the same can't be said for our plants. Of course, sunlight exposure is needed for flowers and grass to grow correctly, but there can be such a thing as too much heat.

While some plants can flourish during a heatwave, others need a bit more TLC to withstand the intense rays without wilting or even perishing. LeAnne Samuelson, a gardening expert from Prestige Botanicals, explained that understanding your plants' needs is key to ensuring they make it through the hot spells. She said: "While sunlight is essential for plants, it's important to remember that some thrive on it more than others.

"Plants like peperomia and begonia do better in partial shade, so if you have them in a sunny spot, it's worth moving them to a cooler area to avoid damage."

However, it can be difficult when it comes to those plants in the ground. Luckily, there is a nifty hack for this, and it involves a bed sheet.

The gardener said: "A bedsheet or even a net curtain can do the trick, offering some relief from the direct sun."

Remember to remove the cover during cooler parts of the day so that your plants can gain nutrients from the sun.

She added, "Just be mindful that this can make it harder for the soil to retain moisture, so you'll need to water more often."

For plants to retain more moisture, gardeners need to make sure they are watering them at the best time of day, before adding a layer of mulch.

"Mulch acts as a barrier between the sun and the soil, helping to lock in moisture and keep the roots cool," LeAnne advised.

"Just a thin layer can make a big difference in helping your plants thrive, especially those that require moist soil."

For mulch, gardeners can use compost, newspaper, bark, grass clippings, straw, or shredded leaves.