Although we’ve not seen much of the sun this summer, we do usually see some warmth over the season. And with it comes its own trials and tribulations for us gardeners. If you find you struggle with wilting plants over the summer, here are our top tips to keep them in tip-top shape.

Water Your Plants More

We're sure this goes without saying, but when it’s warm, you should try to water our plants more often than you normally do. Depending on the plant, this could be up to twice a day, or even more if they need irrigation.

Mulch the Soil

The sun evaporates all the water from your plants and the soil they stand in. Adding a thick layer of mulch will stop the ground from being so dry, giving your plants a chance to soak up essential nutrients and water! A mixture of organic matter like bark, leaf mould and straw can work wonders.



Move Containers

The best part about containers? They can be moved! If you’re growing tender plants in a container, simply move them into the shade. This helps you control how much sunlight they get throughout the day, too.

Start Growing Drought-Tolerant Plants

The sad truth is, no matter how much attention you give some plants, they simply can’t survive a heatwave. The solution?

Start growing drought-tolerant plants. Sunlovers provide the garden with consistent colour, standing strong against the harsh rays of summer. Not all drought-tolerant plants are grasses and herbs. Plants like coneflowers, yarrows, and lavender are perfect for adding colour to the garden – as well as being able to last!

Water Deeply, Not Quickly

A quick splash of water isn’t enough when it’s hot. Watering deeply, rather than a quick splash of water, allows the plant to soak up as much from the root as possible. Doing this also helps plants to grow deeper roots, which can help them cope better with heat.



Care for New Plants

Even the most drought-tolerant plants will need extra care in their first summer. Some gardeners even say to avoid planting new plants in summer, to wait until the temperature has cooled. You can keep them in a nursery, a greenhouse, or simply somewhere cool and dry until then. If plants must be grown, then make sure to water them twice a day, in the early morning and late evening.

You could even provide shade for new plants until they establish themselves, going as far as erecting an umbrella over them while they grow to protect them from the sun.

Reusing Water

Unfortunately, a hosepipe ban can be an almost guarantee of wilting plants. But reusing water can be a handy loophole. For example, you can catch the water you use when boiling vegetables and use them in the garden. Water butts are another great way of collecting water for the garden. Even an empty bucket can catch rainwater before a drought, which you can use later when you need it.



Avoid the Fertiliser

It might be tempting is to add fertiliser to the plants to help them cope. However, the growth caused by these fertilisers requires even more watering, and is more likely to die back and wilt. It’s much better to wait until the drought has passed.

Put Down the Secateurs

When it’s warm, it’s best to leave your plants alone. Don’t prune, deadhead, weed, or transplant. Let the plants be until the drought has passed, as any pruning can cause stress, especially when they’re already frazzled by the heat. The best we can do is continue to water them as often as we can.