We never know what we are going to get with a British summer – it is certainly always full of surprises, and as gardeners, it is important to be prepared for every eventuality. With record breaking high temperatures sweeping across the UK this summer, for most gardeners, protecting their beloved plants during this incredibly warm weather is one of the most important things to think about as the thermometers rocket ever higher.
When you spend a lot of time preparing your garden, growing plants from seed, sourcing your favourite plants from places like this plants for trade store https://www.palmstead.co.uk and keeping your greenhouse well looked after, the last thing you want is to lose it all as the heat increases. Here are some of the things that you can do to protect your plants from the sweltering summer weather…
Move your pots – Pots do dry out much more quickly, but they also have the advantage of being portable. Move all of your pots out of the sun into areas that will get the most shade. This way it also makes it easier to water – which you should do more regularly when temperatures are higher but avoid doing it in the heat of the day. Wait until it cools off a little in the evening, as well as early in the morning to make sure that they are well hydrated.
Leave the Cut Grass – When you have been mowing your lawn, leave the cuttings on the lawn itself. This serves as a protective cover to your lawn which can give it some shade from the hot sun. The clippings also add some extra hydration to the lawn, so if you want to avoid that scorched brown grass this will certainly help you to do that. You can also use some of the cut grass around flower beds as this will protect them in the same way.
Protect Nature – Animals also struggle in the heat, so grow a wild area in the garden – wildflowers and long grasses provide shade for many animals and are also loved by bees and butterflies. Leaving bowls of water in this area will also help out birds and hedgehogs who will be needing to stay hydrated on the hot days.
Looking after the lawn in hot weather
The lawn needs care in a heatwave just as much as the borders do. Mowing too often can leave grass dry and stressed, and once the soil dries out it becomes much harder to keep the lawn healthy. During hot, dry spells it helps to mow less frequently and let the grass keep a little more length.
If the lawn starts to look dried out, water it when it genuinely needs it rather than on a fixed routine. Targeted watering does more good than a little every day.
Be realistic about how much the lawn can take. Every lawn needs a certain amount of maintenance, and asking too much of it, or of yourself, makes it more likely to struggle. Planting more foliage and flowers around and within the garden can also help, reducing areas of dead grass and weeds while improving the look of the whole space.
Mowing habits that help a lawn cope with heat
How you mow makes a real difference to how well grass copes with hot, dry weather. Avoid cutting too short, because a slightly longer lawn is less prone to drought and protects the soil from drying out. A cut of around 25mm, or one inch, works well, and the height should be lowered gradually rather than shaving the grass down in one go.
During the growing season a lawn usually needs mowing once a week, sometimes twice depending on the weather. Collect the clippings for a neat finish, or use a mulching mower if you want to return them to the lawn.
A scarifier removes moss, old clippings and other debris that stop rain draining properly and leave the lawn damp and prone to moss and fungal disease. Feed the lawn little and often, ideally with an organic feed that can go on in any weather without watering in, to keep the grass vigorous and help prevent weeds and moss from taking hold.
Summer jobs for lawns, borders and pots
Alongside protecting plants from the heat, a few regular tasks keep the garden looking its best through summer. Grass grows strongly at this time of year and looks healthiest when it is cut, fed and watered regularly, rather than left to grow long, which can weaken it and leave bare patches. Treat any moss, reseed thin areas, protect the seed from birds and keep the new shoots watered.
As plants put on new growth, look out for signs of pests and disease and deal with them quickly before they spread. Do not put infected material in the compost bin, as you would be spreading the problem back across your soil. Take it to the local recycling centre, or burn it safely if bonfires are allowed where you live.
Containers such as troughs and hanging baskets bring lots of colour, and they suit small gardens and heavy clay soil. In warm weather they dry out quickly, so water and feed them often. If the leaves turn crisp, move the container somewhere with less sun.