Hot summer days are on the way, and if you have outdoor plants in containers, this tip will help your plants survive the heat, and retain moisture.

By using two pots–which is called double potting–you can prevent the roots of sun-baked containers from overheating by placing the plant, pot and all, into a bigger container.

After you have done that, fill the space between the two containers with damp peat moss. The layer of damp peat moss will keep the inner pot and plant roots cool and moist during the summer heat, and your plants will do much better without the heat stress.

Hilary A. Rinaldi has been in the landscape industry professionally for over 20 years and is a Certified Organic Grower. After a stint on TV as “The Weekend Gardener,”she started her own Web magazine in 2000. Visit her site here.