Expert urges home gardeners to do this to protect plants | Nature | News
The start of summer may have been a slow one, but as temperatures finally warm up, gardens across the country require a little extra attention. Many plants enjoy warm conditions – and some even thrive in heatwaves.
Several kinds of plants do their best growing between temperatures of 15-30C. But, anything above that for sustained periods of time can put them under severe strain.
To protect your plants against heatwaves, Hannah Rowson, gardening expert at seeds and bulb specialists, J. Parker’s, shares essential tips to keep your garden blooming through the hottest months of the year.
1. Use rainy days to protect against future heatwaves
This may seem like an obvious solution, but watering plants more regularly over the summer months will save them from drying out. Hannah recommends that ‘the best time to water your garden is in the morning or afternoon, while the temperatures are lower, to prevent the water from evaporating in the soil before it gets the chance to reach the roots’.
Unfortunately, with heatwaves comes the threat of a hosepipe ban. To avoid any water supply issues, Hannah suggests collecting rainwater in a water butt throughout the year.
“Collecting rainwater using water butts will prevent you from being caught out by any hosepipe bans and offers a great alternative to keep your plants hydrated without relying on your main water supply,” Hannah said.
2. Shield container plants from direct sunlight in hot weather
If you have any plants in moveable containers, opt to move them into shaded areas. This handy trick will stop the plants from becoming overwhelmed by the sun’s heat, keeping them healthy, colourful, and beautiful throughout the season.
3. When designing your summer garden, choose plants that can handle the heat
If you haven’t already planted your garden display, then Hannah advises you to consider incorporating plants that are native to warmer climates into your summer garden design.
“Perennial plants like Lavender, Euphorbia, Heuchera, Pennisetum alopecuroides, and Cosmos are drought-tolerant plants that not only beat the heat but also add a touch of colour to your display,” she said.
4. Add mulch after planting to keep your soil full of nutrients
In hot weather, adding a thick layer of mulch has many benefits for your plants. “Mulch helps the soil retain moisture, which is essential for plant health during a heatwave. Also, it provides important nutrients that may be lacking in the soil, such as nitrogen and phosphorus,” says Hannah.
5. Use natural fertilisers that target root health during the summer months
Another way of ensuring your soil is rich with nutrients over the summer months is by using fertilisers. However, “ensure you do not over fertilise the soil during summer, as luscious shrubs may struggle to keep up,” Hannah warns.
Also, Hannah recommends you ‘add natural fertilisers like Mycorrhizal Fungi, these attach themselves to the roots of your plant to create richer root systems’.
