Summer brings dripping ice cream cones, cooling dips in the ocean and other wild swimming spots, and a sense of carefree living. For the plants in our gardens, however, the heat is less enjoyable.
Too much of it can quickly take its toll and while there are steps you can take to help garden flora survive, much of it remains at the mercy of the elements.
All the more important is the care you give once the heat has passed. There are a several ways to help a garden recover from the stress of extreme temperatures, but patience and a measured approach are perhaps the most valuable ingredients in restoring it to full health.
“The biggest mistake we see people making is doing too much too soon. Since plants are likely to be dry, they are easily overwatered. Focus on watering deeply, little and often and stay away from fertilisers for a couple of weeks as this may dry plants out further,” says Chris Bonnett, founder of online garden centre GardeningExpress.
“The same rules apply for the lawn. If you think any patches of grass are looking bare, wait a couple weeks to see if there is any regrowth. If not, go ahead and reseed these areas only.”
Practiced patience? Here's what to do with your garden after weeks of extreme heat.
Use the bark test to check what's alive
First, check what's worth caring for. Don't waste vital resources like water and fertiliser on plants that are long gone. The bark test, or scratch test, is a quick and easy way to check if your shrubs or small trees are still alive, Chris advises.
Gently scratch the bark with your fingernail, if it’s green underneath it’s still alive. If it’s brown and dry it usually means the branch has died.
Prune damaged plants
Plants that are damaged but alive can benefit from a post-heatwave trim. “Assess your plants and remove any that are heavily damaged. This will help prevent the plant from wasting its energy on trying to revive damaged leaves,” explains Chris.
Be careful not to overwater
After weeks of heat and drought, your first instinct may be to water rigorously. In fact, however, the opposite is true. “You may assume you need to give your plants more water, but you could easily overwater them if you’re not careful,” Chris warns. “Instead, aim to water little and often and wait for the water to be properly absorbed before going in again.”
Mulch your beds
One way to keep plants consistently moist without the risk of overwatering is to mulch. “Once you’ve watered your plants, add some mulch to keep the soil moist after being so dry. This will also help put some much needed nutrients back into the soil,” the expert says.
Don’t apply fertiliser to the lawn
And finally, resist the urge to fertilise your lawn, which will likely have gone brown in the heat.
“You may think you need to revive the lawn by giving it some fertiliser, but the truth is this can dry it out further,” says Chris. “Instead, water it deeply throughout the week and wait around two or three weeks to see if it improves. Only reseed any bare patches that remain empty after the lawn has recovered.”
Summer gardening edit
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Wanda Sachs is the Multiplatform Writer for Country Living and House Beautiful, exploring the latest in gardening, wildlife and sustainable living alongside interiors and property. She is particularly interested in human-interest stories, the intersection of design and pop culture, and the evolving relationship between urban and rural life. Previously, she served as Associate Editor at The Berliner in Berlin, where she reported on culture and fashion. Wanda studied English and German at the Goethe University Frankfurt and Exeter University.
