The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 10 letter word UNDERWATER
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
U
N
D
E
R
W
A
T
E
R
More clues leading to the result UNDERWATER
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Neglect your garden plants?/Not on the surface" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case neglect your garden plants?/not on the surface = underwater.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does UNDERWATER mean?
UNDERWATER noun- Underlying water or body of water, for example in an aquifer or the deep ocean
- A type of lure which lies beneath the water surface.
- To water or irrigate insufficiently
- Beneath the surface of the water, or of or pertaining to the region beneath the water surface
- Beneath the water line of a vessel
- Under water.
- Having negative equity; owing more on an asset than its market value
- Going beneath the surface of the water