We don’t yet know what the summer has in store for us, but if it’s anything like the spring we’ve just had, a lot of us can expect hot and dry weather ahead. As much as it’s lovely not to be squelching through the rain in July and August, every gardener will know that garden care in a heatwave can be challenging, to put it mildly.
But what can we do to get ahead of a dry summer? How can we help our gardens in a heatwave, and not feel like all is lost when the often-inevitable hosepipe bans come in
Assess your garden’s vulnerability to heat
The layout and conditions in your garden will make all the difference when preparing your garden for hot weather. Everything from your shade to your soil health will play a role in determining how much work you might need to do to prepare. Most gardens in the UK will struggle in extended periods of drought, because they’ll have been designed and built up over wetter years. So, take some time to identify the areas of your garden that will struggle the most in a long, hot summer. The measures you put in place will be dictated by this assessment.
Mulch, mulch, and then mulch some more
One of the hands-down most impactful things that we can do in any garden to protect from dry weather spells, is to make sure our mulching game is strong. As well as protecting soil from wind erosion and restricting weed growth, mulching is absolutely key to retaining moisture. That’s because when we water, the moisture will seep down through the mulch layer, but that layer will protect it from evaporating off in the hot sun. When using organic matter to mulch, you get the added bonus of nutrients being released into the soil.
The best mulching materials are straw, bark and compost. Some people mulch through the winter by leaving cuttings where they fall, especially if they want plants to naturally re-seed. For mulching to protect from hot weather, it’s worth also considering the colour of the material you’re using. Dark bark chips, for example, will soak up the heat from direct sunlight, potentially heating the soil beyond the levels that your plants can tolerate. With this in mind, your sunniest spots will benefit from lighter mulching materials, such as light woodchip, and even white gravel, which will reflect sunlight rather than storing its heat.
Don’t be sparing with your mulch when preparing your garden for heatwave. Aim for a layer of around 4 inches, and ensure you’re laying it on well-weeded and well-watered soil.
Watering routine
During a heatwave, your garden will benefit from watering both early morning, before the heat of day rises, and in the evening, once the sun has moved on and the risk of water evaporating is lower. While hosepipes are available to use, you can think about sprinkler systems to maximise your morning and evening watering, and depending on the types of plants you’re looking after, also consider drip irrigation and soaker hose systems.
Depending on where you are in the country, there may of course be a high chance of a hosepipe ban coming in during the hottest months. Many of us will spend our days ferry watering cans back and forth across the lawn (yet another reason not to do it in the middle of the day!)
Remember that more established plants will be a little bit more resilient to drought than ones that have only recently been planted. So, prioritise your watering, to benefit the plants that will need it the most.
If you have some time to go before the heat of summer, we recommend thinking about rainwater capture and water-butts to help see you through the driest months.
Shade & Screening
Some areas of your garden may have natural shade, but those in the full sun are likely to struggle the most in heatwave conditions. For more tender plants in direct sun, or those in pots, think about how to add shade for them during the peak of the heat.
You can buy purpose-made plant canopies for exactly that purpose, but if budget is an issue, you can also improvise. An old bedsheet tied to bamboo support rods, light coloured tarpaulins, and even an old tent, could do the trick. As long as it’s not a fire risk, any shade will do! Even, when you’re not taking them off to the beach with you, windbreaks and beach parasols could help.
Don’t forget to invest in greenhouse blinds and louvres if you have a greenhouse in your garden too, as this will play a key role in ensuring your plants don’t overheat and wilt in the heat.
As you set up your shade, make sure to think how you will maintain access for watering, and don’t block out all sunlight completely.
Plant Choice
Chances are your garden is already established, so you’re looking for solutions to protect existing beds and plants. However, if you’re looking to add new plants to your garden, which will require less care and worry as the temperatures rise, look towards the Mediterranean and think about the wonderful plants that thrive there. If you have a dry, sunny bed, it could be perfect for recreating a Spanish or Italian feel, with heat-hardy plants, flowers, succulents and herbs.
Lawn care
Mow your grass less in the drier conditions. Not only because it will be slower to grow, but also to keep the blades longer. They help shield the soil from the sun, keeping the cool and moisture held beneath them. Leave your lawn long enough that the blades of grass can protect the roots beneath, keeping your lawn as healthy as possible in the hottest days and weeks.
Soil care
Gardeners advise to leave soil as undisturbed as possible during heatwaves and drought conditions. This allows it to retain moisture in its settled structure, instead of disrupting it and risking water evaporating away.
Proactive weeding
Weeds can cause even more challenge than usual in hot weather in your garden, because they can be hardy little blighters, and the moisture and nutrients they’re competing for are even more scarce. And we think it’s probably it’s a safe assumption that you’re not intending to lug your watering can across the garden every morning and night just to keep the dandelions at their finest! Good mulching will help with this, anyway, but it’s definitely worth the extra effort to keep weeds under control.
Hopefully these measures will help to keep your garden beautiful this summer, even as temperatures increase and if there’s a shortage of rain.