The current extreme heat warnings are accompanied by encouragement to keep cool and hydrated. How can we help our garden and plants during these conditions?
Like us, our gardens are stressed by extreme weather, and Chopwell can help.
Follow our simple tips to help your garden keep cool and hydrated during the summer heat.
- Water in the evening and /or early morning. Make sure the plants are in the shade when you water and concentrate the water on the soil at the base of the plant
- For plants in pots, minimise water waste by standing pots on saucers to catch the water, put a mulch on the soil top such as gravel, it looks good and helps reduce water evaporation.
- Group plant pots together, it makes them easier to water, they will create a microclimate and help shade each other
- For garden plants if they are established, over a year old, they should have a good enough root system to cope.
- For newly planted and vegetable plants we recommend you sink an empty plant pot, old yoghurt pot with holes in the bottom, or plastic veg container with holes in beside each plant or a group of plants. Water into the plant pot so the water drains into the soil by the plant roots rather than running off. This is also very effective for any veg in growbags or container grown tomatoes.
- Reduce evaporation by minimising bare soil in your flower beds, add a layer of mulch, this can be grass cuttings, leaves, weeds you have pulled up, or even newspaper. The aim is to keep the moisture in the soil rather than let it dry out in the sun.
- Stop mowing your grass, it will not grow much in this hot weather and cutting stresses the plants and increases the chance of the lawn turning brown
Here at Chopwell we are slopping on the sun cream, and wearing hats to keep cool and we hope you find a shady place in your garden to enjoy the summer safely.
