It’s a hot and occasionally tempestuous summer – a challenge for every gardener.
Blistering hot days have been accompanied by downpours of rain. And while we might curse Mother Nature occasionally, there’s no course but to take protective measures to help ensure your garden stays in great shape.
This is especially important if you’re thinking of putting your home on the market soon.
Summer and early-autumn buyers respond positively to a well-kempt garden with healthy lawns and the colour of summer blooms.
A resilient garden needs a two-pronged strategy – a selection of heat-tolerant plants and a strict watering regime.
If you’re worried your garden is wilting, here are six tips to help you:
Soil toil – Everything starts with the soil. If yours appears dry and sandy, then you should dig in lots of compost mixed with cow manure. To finish the job, add a wetting agent so water is absorbed by the soil rather than running off.
Plant selection – It’s easy to get carried away when visiting garden centres and forget the fact that the climatic conditions can get pretty harsh. Talk to your favourite retailer about drought-tolerant plants and natives that will give you the colour and vibrancy you’re seeking for your garden.
Alternatives to natives – Not everyone wants to fill their garden with natives, and they can also be expensive. Succulents are a great alternative. You can find tall varieties, such as tree aloe, and ground covers like echeverias. They’re just as resilient as natives and look great.
Water-smart – Always water in the morning or at dusk when evaporation will be at its lowest. An early-morning watering regime is best. Sometimes, water can sit on the roots of plants all night and cause root-rot. Either way, you’ll lose up to 80% of your water through evaporation if you turn on the hose in the middle of a hot day.
Much about mulch – Another way to reduce your watering is to lay 4cm-6cm of mulch around the plants in the flowerbeds. This will stop moisture evaporating and insulate the roots of each plant from the searing heat of a summer sun. Mulch offers protective qualities when the days turn cold, too.
Shade zones – On brutally hot days, it’s a great idea to have a shady part of your garden available so you can relocate pot plants to prevent them from burning or drying out.
Practical pruning – Deadhead spent blooms and prune leggy growth as this will redirect the plant’s energy from reproduction to survival, improving long-term health.