Posted by Esther Roberts on 17th Jun 2021
How to Keep Your Plants Cool During the Summer
Knowing how to cool plants down in the summer is an essential part of gardening through the season. Although some plants and flowers are drought resistant, many can struggle through particularly warm weather.
If your plants struggle to thrive throughout the summer months, then you’ve come to the right place! Here are some quick and simple ways to keep your plants cool during seasonal heatwaves.
Install Shade Cloth
Shade cloths are great for protecting crops through
the season. You can buy these at most outdoor stores or online. Usually, they
won’t be as big as the one pictured above.
Shade cloths are perfect for reflecting the heat of the sun away from your more
delicate crops, such as peas and lettuce. The use of a shade cloth can help
your crops to grow for longer, providing more produce!
The Best Time to Water Your Plants
You may not realise, but there are optimal times
for watering your plants in summer. Although you may think they’re being hydrated
when you do it midday, this can actually stunt the amount of water the root is
getting.
As a rule of thumb, water your plants early in the morning, or in the evening
once the sun has gone down. This allows the water to soak into the soil and
nourishing the plant before the midday sun can dry it out.
Think About Your Plants Positioning
Potted plants are great for those that need a bit more shade. Pots can be moved anywhere around the garden, allowing you to find the shadiest areas throughout the day as the sun moves. For this reason, it’s best to grow drought-resistant plants in beds and borders, as they can resist a beat of heat.
Utilise Your Mulch
Mulch is a perfect way to cool plants down. Adding
a bit of mulch, like leaves and grass cuttings, to the surface of the soil that
surrounds the plant can actually cool the plant down.
Mulch also helps to retain moisture in the soil, and prevents weeds from
appearing!