Put away your brollies and whip out the sunnies… a heatwave is about to hit. And while we might be rubbing in the sunscreen with glee, spare a thought for our gardens, which are set to struggle during the predicted nine-day long spell of hot, sunny weather. So, what can we do now to help plants survive and thrive in the coming days?
‘During most British summers, we experience the occasional period of hot, dry, sunny weather,’ says Dan Cooper, GH gardening expert. 'A mature garden planted with trees and shrubs won’t show any sign of distress unless a heatwave persists for a long period of time. Lawns may turn brown, but little permanent damage is done if they’re not watered. It’s when we’re caring for tropical houseplants, colourful summer bedding, planted containers or a cherished vegetable patch that we may need to take some simple precautions to ensure that our gardens remain healthy and happy until cooler weather returns.’
Here are Dan’s best heatwave survival tips:
Use mulch and protect foliage
While our natural instinct may be to water more regularly, the secret is actually to water more wisely, taking additional measures to reduce the amount of water plants need – that includes mulching or selecting naturally drought-tolerant plants. We also need to remember that light levels on bright, sunny days can be exceptionally high, causing delicate foliage and pale skin to burn. For plants and gardeners the answer is the same: find some shade, cover up and keep cool if possible.
Swap sprinklers for watering cans
Although there may be some satisfaction in wielding a sprinkler, the most effective and least wasteful method of watering is to direct the stream of water to the exact spot where the plant meets the ground. Watering bare earth in between plants will only encourage weeds. Wantonly splashing foliage with water can spread diseases, in particular blight.
Let lawns go brown
If you have a lawn, resist the urge to water it during dry spells. The grass may turn brown, but it will soon green up again after the next significant rainfall.
Hydrate your houseplants
Houseplants positioned on a sunny windowsill will dry out much more quickly during a heatwave – maybe twice as fast as normal or perhaps even more. If the compost in their pot is dry to the touch, give them a good drink, even if this breaks your normal watering routine. Unless you’re going away on holiday, avoid leaving houseplants standing in a saucer of water for long periods as it will stagnate and turn sour – tip away any excess water once the roots have drawn up as much as they can.
Move your pots
Pots, containers and hanging baskets will dry out very quickly during a heatwave and may need watering as often as twice daily. To reduce the burden, move any that you can into a cool, shady corner until the weather cools down again. If that’s not possible, water them thoroughly, until water runs out of the drainage holes in the base of the container. If compost becomes very dry, it may lose the ability to rehydrate – in this case, stand the whole container in a bucket or trough of water and let it soak for a few hours or until it feels heavy again.
