How to look after your garden in the summer months
Watering your plants
Watering plants is one of the most important ways to care for your garden. Summer’s heat and dry humidity can take its toll, so during high temperatures, it’s important to ensure your plants and soil maintain enough water.
Rainwater is an excellent choice for plants as it has a lot less chemicals and salts compared to mains water. It is also especially good for ericaceous plants such as rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias. It’s a good idea to install a water butt to collect rainwater if you can, this will help reduce water waste and reduce bills at the same time.
Ideally, plants should be watered in the early morning or evening, when it’s cooler, this will allow the water to run down into the soil and reach the roots of the plant without too much excess water lost due to evaporation throughout the day.
Dead-head your flowers
To ensure longevity in your boarders, it’s important to dead-head your flowers regularly, such as dahlias and roses, this will help to keep your garden flourishing right through to the autumn, it will also prevent debris and directs energy into stronger growth.
Leave your lawn to grow
Longer grass will sustain your lawn during any dry spells – leaving approximately three inches is ideal and will help the soil retain moisture by shielding it from the sun.
And if you go away…
Don’t forget it’s important to water your garden if you’re away on holiday! Any container plants which are in a sunny location should be placed in the shade so they won’t be damaged by the heat and give them all a good watering as late as possible before your holiday.
