Gardening enthusiasts, it’s time to take heed – scorching heat and temperatures exceeding 30 degrees could be a threat to your precious gardens. But don’t despair as gardening gurus have shared their wisdom to ensure your garden thrives during the sweltering conditions.
While many people love the idea of lounging in the sun, dreaming of cooling off in paddling pools and enjoying barbecues, those with a green thumb are concerned about the wellbeing of their plants. There’s no need to panic, though, as experts in the field have offered guidance on how to avoid common gardening mistakes, helping your garden stay lush and vibrant as temperatures rise.
QVC TV presenter and gardening expert Mark Lane has highlighted one essential tip: the importance of watering at the right time. He warns: “One of the worst mistakes you can make is watering your plants at the wrong time.”
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Lane suggests that the optimal watering window is during the cool of early morning, preferably between 5 and 9 a.m., to reduce water loss through evaporation. If you miss the opportunity to water in the morning, an afternoon watering session is also acceptable, as long as it gives your plants enough time to “dry quickly, which helps protect them against the development of fungal diseases.”
However, Mark warns that watering at night is a big mistake: “If you water at night, water can pool on the soil surface, around the roots and on the foliage, which can lead to fungus, rot, insects and even death of the plant.”
Gardening enthusiasts may be wondering how much to water their plants during scorching weather, but experts suggest that “less is more” when it comes to hydration during a heatwave. Overwatering can be a rookie mistake when temperatures soar, as it’s easy to assume your plants need extra hydration.
But this isn’t always the case. Henry Bartlam, the gardening guru behind Dig, offers some sage advice: “Don’t water your plants every day with little water. It’s better to give them a good soak every other day (especially when it’s hot) than a quick spritz every day.”
“There’s no exact science to it, but if the soil looks nice and moist and doesn’t dry out quickly, you’ve probably done a good job. Be careful not to overwater and saturate the soil, though, as this could not only harm the plants, but also waste valuable water.”
One tip is that if the soil is damp, let it rest for a while, but don’t let it go for a week. While he reaffirms that it’s not fatal, Henry recommends postponing planting during a heatwave to give the new plants the best chance of flourishing.
She adds: “It’s not ideal to plant plants when it’s this hot, especially if they’re small, tender plants.” But, if you’re eager to get started straight away, she advises preparing the soil so it’s moist first, refraining from the strongest midday sun, and giving your plants a good drink after planting.
Gardening experts have allayed concerns about burnt lawns amid the scorching summer, assuring us that grass will regain its glory once temperatures drop. Rolawn sales director Jonathan Hill defended dry lawns, saying: “Trying to keep grass green during longer periods of hot, dry weather can be an unnecessary waste of time, effort and water.”
“During a heatwave, your grass may lose colour or turn brown and go dormant, but don’t worry, if the grass is of good quality it should recover quickly when it rains, as it inevitably will.”
