While the current heatwave is perfect for lazy afternoons spent sipping Pimms by the riverside, it's less good for the health of your garden! We get some advice from the deputy chairman of Squire's Garden Centre on how to beat the heat
Sarah Squire
Have your plants wilted in the heat? Have your roses lost their shine or is your lettuce looking limp? With the heatwave predicted to continue for another two weeks Sarah Squire, deputy chairman of Squire’s Garden Centres, gives some top tips to help your garden survive the heatwave.
1) Water early or late – Water plants early in the morning or late in the evening and give them a good soaking at their base. Avoid watering in the heat of the day, as it will scorch the leaves.
2) Water wisely – Use water wisely. Did you know that you can re-use washing-up or bath water once it has cooled? Just make sure you don’t water anything you would eat without cooking it first, such as lettuce or cucumber. Have a water butt ready in case we have a downpour and then you’ll have free water on tap.
Water plants early in the morning or late in the evening
3) Don’t cut the lawn – Don’t cut your lawn if you can avoid it, or don’t cut it too short, as long grass will tolerate the heat better.
4) Move pots into the shade – If you can move your pots put them in the shade or under a sun umbrella, especially if you are going away.
Moving pots in to the shade stops plants being baked in the sun's rays
5) Mulch, mulch, mulch – Water plants well, top dress with compost, then cover with mulch such as tree bark, which will keep the soil cooler and prevent it from drying out. Mulch is also great as it improves soil texture and suppresses weeds.
6) Choose low maintenance plants – Buy hardy plants that need minimal watering such as Sedum, Hebe, Lavender, Eurphorbia, Cordyline or Ceanothus.
Hardy plants like Lavender are really low maintenance and deal with the heat well
7) Instant colour – For instant colour in your garden buy some jumbo bedding plants such as geraniums, or a ready-planted container, then sit back and enjoy the sunshine!
For more expert gardening advice, head to: squiresgardencentres.co.uk
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