Gardening enthusiasts beware: the relentless sun and temperatures exceeding 30 degrees could wreak havoc on their prized gardens.
You can breathe a sigh of relief, though, because gardening experts are here with essential tips to help your vegetable patch thrive during the scorching heatwave. While many are enjoying the pleasure of sunny days, imagining lazy moments in paddling pools and barbecues, those who are dedicated to their gardens may be worried about the well-being of their plants.
But fear no more, plant lovers, because horticultural experts offer tips to avoid common gardening mistakes that promise to keep your garden thriving no matter how high the temperatures get. QVC’s resident gardening enthusiast, Mark Lane, points out one vital fact: When it comes to watering your plant friends, timing is all-important.
He has warned everyone about a key mistake: “One of the worst mistakes you can make is watering your plants at the wrong time.”
According to Lane, the golden hours for plant hydration fall in the quiet cool of dawn, between 5 a.m. and 9 a.m., to reduce the chance of water loss through evaporation, Express reported.
If you don’t have a chance to water in the morning, Mark recommends watering in the afternoon, as long as it gives the plants time to “dry out quickly, which helps protect them against the development of fungal diseases.” However, he warns against watering at night: “Watering at night can cause water to pool on the soil surface, around roots, and on foliage, which can lead to fungal growth, rot, insects, and even the death of a plant.”
During these heat waves, gardening enthusiasts may have questions about the right amount of water for their plants, but the consensus among experts is to take a “less is more” approach. Overwatering can be harmful during a heat wave, contrary to the belief that plants need extra hydration.
Henry Bartlam, founder of Dig, offers a valuable tip: “Don’t water your plants every day with little water. It’s better to give them a good soak every other day (especially in hot climates) than a quick mist every day.”
She adds: “There’s no exact science to it, but if the soil seems nice and moist and doesn’t dry out quickly, you’ve probably done a good job. But be careful not to overwater and saturate the soil, as this could not only harm the plants, but also waste valuable water.”
The plant expert suggests a simple watering test: if the soil feels moist, leave it there for a while, but don’t let it go a week. And while it’s not the end of the world, Henry advises not planting during a heatwave to give fledgling plants the best chance of thriving.
She clarifies: “It is not ideal to plant things when it is so hot, especially if they are small and tender plants.”
However, if you are keen to start planting, she says to make sure the soil is prepared and moist, avoid midday sun and, after storing the plants, give them a generous watering. Gardening gurus have calmed fears about parched lawns during the scorching summer, insisting that vegetation will bounce back when temperatures drop.
Jonathan Hill, Sales Director at Rolawn, said: “Trying to keep grass green during prolonged 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.”
