As the weather heats up and summer kicks in, your garden is likely to be at its best. But although many of us take care to keep ourselves protected and hydrated in the summer sun, do we need to pay extra care when watering our flowers, shrubs, fruit and vegetables?
Here are some handy summer watering tips to help keep your garden looking at its best:
- With a few dry months behind us it’s a good reminder to install a water butt in your garden or allotment which can collect the rainwater for the year. They remain a perfect way to conserve water and are absolutely essential if hosepipe bans strike.
- Try and water in the early morning – this ensures plants have water through the day but have dried out a little before nighttime, helping avoid problems with rot, fungus and insects.
- Remember that different plants and vegetables need different amounts of watering. Leafy vegetables such as lettuce, spinach and cabbage require frequent watering in small amounts compared to shrubs and trees. Root vegetables can cope with less watering; every 10-14 days is usually fine as long as the ground hasn’t fully dried out.
- A good tip is to dig down slightly to check if the soil has some dampness before watering the garden or vegetable beds.
- Mulching at this time of year is a great way of retaining the moisture in the soil, and helps keep the surface temperature of the ground at a nice temperature.
- Leave some water out for birds, butterflies and bees during hot periods, they’ll be so glad of it and it all helps create a more biodiverse space.
- Don’t get too obsessive; plants are much more resilient than we think. Remember, most started outgrowing wild!
- If you need a less labour-intensive option consider drilling small holes at even spaces along the length of a hosepipe and laying across a bed. You can turn it on at a slow rate or even attach it to a timer to ensure regular watering.
Hopefully, with these tips, you’ll keep your garden and lawn looking fabulous and healthy during the hot summer months. If you need more helpful gardening hints and tips, take a look at our hints and tips blog.
