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Three tips for watering during summer hot spells
Heat. Cor Blimey, it’s hot. Let’s be honest, at this time of year none of us really want to do a lot of gardening. Lounging around in the garden? Yes. Getting amongst the plants and getting a sweat on? Not so much. I can tell you, after being tied up this afternoon digging out a dead ceanothus and then laying some patio slabs, I’d have FAR preferred to be slurping a Callipo with my feet in a bucket of cold water.
Whilst you might give the garden the green light to do its own thing for a few weeks, one thing you mustn’t miss out on watering. Whether you’re environmentally friendly or just don’t want to see the water metre whizzing by, there’s a few things you can do to ensure that your plants get the water they need without wastage.
Water in the evenings
If I had a penny for the number of times I’ve seen people with sprinklers on in the middle of a summer’s day, I’d be pretty rich. But it’s SO uneconomical. Tonnes of that water evaporates before it even gets a chance to soak in, and what little moisture that does penetrate the hard soil won’t do a lot of help to plants unless you leave the hose going for hours. By far, the best time to water is in the evenings after you’re home from a hot day at work. If you’re using a sprinkler, take care to place it correctly so you get maximum spread of water and quench your plants thirst with a long drench. It’s better to water heavily once or twice a week, than for just a few minutes every night.
Eradicate or reduce your lawn
I did mention that it’s hot and sticky, so you might not want to actually do this now, but reducing or getting rid of your lawn completely, is a good option. ‘Oh no‘, I hear you cry as you think of rolling green suburbia. But look out your window. Is your patch a lush green bowling green, or has it turned to a brown mess with rampant weeds that takes too much maintenance? Lawns really are dead garden spaces if you love plants, and whilst they offer structure to the garden, the tiresome task of looking after them is often too large.
Instead, think about reducing your lawn size by cutting additional flowerbeds or a veggie patch in. Install a beautiful pergola or archway to grow climbers up and create a sense of intrigue, or build a small patio that catches the evening sun and deck it out with garden furniture from Hayes Garden World. Smaller lawn, less work, less watering. Then you can relax on your patio furniture to your hearts content. Sounds good to me.
Go on a mulching frenzy
A lot of people seem to get confused by what mulch actually is. All it means is that any exposed soil has been covered over to deter weeds and hold in moisture. You can use bark chips, shingle and wood clippings in ornamental gardens, and if you’re on the veggie patch and don’t mind things a little messier, grass and straw also work well. Combined with evening watering, this will lock a lot more water into the ground, allowing plants to thrive despite the blazing sun. It will also do harvests like strawberries a lot of good as it helps protects soft fruits from rot and pesky bugs.
So, if you’re looking ahead to the weekend and trying to put off those gardening tasks, opt for a simpler water based chore instead. By making a few changes to your garden and routine, you can relax on that balmy summer’s night without worrying that your plants are fading away.
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