A month on and it is still so hot. Our gardens are showing the impact of the prolonged dry and hot spell with brown lawns and wilting plants. Here at Chopwell we are asked what to do to keep our gardens alive.
Know your cool and hot spots
As the sun moves round, shade moves too. Try to keep plants in pots out of the sun in the hottest part of the day (12-3). If they are in full sun, group pots together, to make watering easier and to allow the plants to create a micro climate.
Leave your beds alone
Plants and leaves may have withered and be covering the soil. This may look untidy, but it does create a protective layer between the sun and the soil, giving the same benefits as a mulch.
Use a mulch
Bare soil will dry out very quickly creating dust and potential soil erosion. Keep the goodness locked in with a layer of mulch, this can be bags of bark from the garden centre or leaves and stalks from plants in your garden.
Leave the grass
It may be looking terrible, but the last thing your grass needs when it is this dry and hot is cutting. Once we have had rain and it has greened up again, the grass may benefit from a light mow, with the blades on a high setting. If possible mulch mow to help give the grass a feed.
Create mini reservoirs in your pots
Cut off the bottom of a plastic drinks bottle, poke a few holes in the lid and upend in your plant pot. Water into this reservoir to allow slow release of water. Water in the evening when the sun is off the plants to give them a chance to absorb the water during the cooler nights.
While it is still so hot, if you need advice for your trees and shrubs give Chopwell a call. Our friendly team is looking forward to hearing from you!
