How to Keep Your Garden Looking Good in Hot Weather

When summer temperatures rise, gardens can quickly begin to feel the heat. Containers dry out faster, flowering plants may wilt and lawns can lose their fresh green colour.

This week in our Monday Garden Guide, we are sharing practical ways to keep your garden healthy, colourful and well cared for during hot weather.

Careful watering, mulching and regular plant checks can make a real difference. However, not every plant needs watering every day, so it is important to prioritise those that need help most.

Prioritise the Plants That Need Water Most

During hot, dry weather, concentrate your watering on the plants that are most vulnerable.

These usually include:

• Newly planted trees, shrubs and perennials

• Plants growing in pots and hanging baskets

• Seedlings and young plants

• Fruit and vegetable crops

• Plants showing clear signs of drought stress

• Recently laid turf or newly sown lawns

Established trees, shrubs and perennials that are suited to their position should generally need less frequent watering. Many can cope with short dry spells once their roots have developed.

Rather than watering the entire garden lightly, focus on vulnerable plants and water their root zones thoroughly.

Water at the Right Time

Early morning is generally the best time to water during hot weather. Temperatures are cooler, evaporation is reduced and plants can take up moisture before the hottest part of the day.

Later in the evening is the next-best option when morning watering is not possible. Try to direct water towards the soil or compost rather than soaking the foliage, particularly late in the day.

Plants can still be watered during the daytime if they are badly wilted and need immediate help. It is better to water a stressed plant than to wait several hours simply because it is not the ideal time.

The RHS advises watering less frequently but more thoroughly, helping moisture reach deeper into the soil and encouraging plants to develop deeper roots.

Check Before You Water

There is no single watering schedule that suits every plant.

Before watering, check whether the soil or compost is actually dry. Push a finger below the surface of container compost, as the top may appear dry while the root area remains moist.

Signs that a plant may need water include:

• Dry soil or compost below the surface

• Wilting leaves

• Drooping shoots

• Flowers fading unusually quickly

• Containers feeling noticeably lighter

Wilting can also be caused by waterlogged roots, high temperatures or disease, so do not assume that every drooping plant needs more water.

Some plants temporarily wilt during the hottest part of the day and recover as temperatures fall. Check the soil before adding water.

Water Thoroughly

A small splash may only wet the surface of the soil and is unlikely to reach the main root system.

Apply water slowly around the base of the plant, allowing it to soak into the root zone. If water immediately runs across the surface, pause and allow it to sink in before continuing.

For plants growing in the ground, a thorough watering at wider intervals is usually more beneficial than a small amount every day.

Water newly planted specimens regularly during dry weather while their roots establish. They cannot yet reach the deeper moisture available to mature plants.

Pay Extra Attention to Pots and Hanging Baskets

Containers dry out much faster than plants growing in open soil. Small pots, hanging baskets and window boxes are particularly vulnerable because they contain less compost and are exposed to sun and wind.

Check containers every day during warm or windy weather. During very hot conditions, some may need checking twice a day, although they should only be watered when required.

When watering a container:

1. Check the compost beneath the surface.

2. Apply water slowly across the compost.

3. Continue until water begins to drain from the base.

4. Allow excess water to drain away.

5. Check that water has not simply run down the gap between the compost and the side of the pot.

Very dry compost can sometimes shrink away from the container. In this situation, water slowly in stages so the compost has time to absorb the moisture.

Light rain may not provide enough water for containers, as it can wet only the top few centimetres of compost. Continue checking pots even after a summer shower.

Move Vulnerable Containers

Containers in full afternoon sun or exposed, windy positions may dry out extremely quickly.

Where practical, temporarily move vulnerable pots into light shade during a heatwave. Grouping containers together can also reduce their exposure and create a slightly more humid environment around the plants.

Avoid moving sun-loving plants into deep shade for long periods, but temporary protection from intense afternoon heat can reduce stress.

Place saucers beneath suitable patio pots to collect run-off during summer, but do not leave plants that dislike wet conditions permanently standing in water. The RHS also recommends shading exposed pots and baskets during severe heat.

Use Mulch to Retain Moisture

Mulching is one of the most useful ways to help garden soil retain moisture.

A mulch is a layer of material applied to the soil surface. Suitable materials include:

• Composted bark

• Bark chippings

• Well-rotted garden compost

• Well-rotted manure

• Leaf mould

• Wood chippings

• Gravel or decorative stone

Mulch can reduce moisture loss, suppress weeds and protect plant roots from rapid changes in temperature. Organic mulches can also improve the soil as they gradually break down.

Apply Mulch Correctly

Apply mulch when the soil is already moist and free from weeds. Putting mulch onto very dry soil will not replace the need for thorough watering.

Aim for a layer at least 5cm deep where space allows. A very thin scattering may look tidy but is less effective at conserving moisture and suppressing weeds.

Spread the mulch around plants while leaving a small clear gap around stems, trunks and crowns. Piling damp mulch directly against plants can encourage rotting.

Mulching is often easiest in autumn, winter or spring, when the soil is naturally moist. However, it can still be applied in summer after the ground has been watered thoroughly.

Keep Weeds Under Control

Weeds compete with garden plants for water, nutrients and light.

Remove weeds regularly, ideally before they become large or set seed. Hoeing is most effective during dry weather, as uprooted weeds are more likely to dry out on the soil surface.

Take care when hoeing around shallow-rooted plants and avoid disturbing the roots of newly planted specimens.

Applying mulch after weeding can help reduce further weed growth and retain moisture around your plants.

Feed Container Plants Carefully

Summer bedding, hanging baskets and patio plants produce flowers over a long period and may eventually use up the nutrients in their compost.

Once the initial nutrients have been depleted, apply a suitable plant food according to the product instructions. A high-potassium feed is often used for flowering container plants, while other crops and plant groups may need a different formulation.

Never apply more feed than recommended. Overfeeding can damage roots, cause weak growth and lead to a build-up of salts in the compost.

Do not feed plants simply because the weather is hot. Plants that are severely dry or wilted should be watered and allowed to recover before liquid feed is applied.

Freshly planted containers may not need immediate feeding, as new compost often contains enough nutrients for the first few weeks. Check the compost packaging and plant-feed instructions.

Deadhead Suitable Flowering Plants

Deadheading means removing flowers after they have faded.

Many bedding plants and repeat-flowering perennials produce more blooms when old flowers are removed before seeds develop. Deadheading also helps keep pots, baskets and borders looking tidy.

Plants that often benefit from deadheading include:

• Petunias

• Pelargoniums

• Marigolds

• Cosmos

• Dahlias

• Roses

• Penstemons

• Many salvias

Remove the faded flower and, where appropriate, its flower stalk. Use clean secateurs or scissors for thicker stems.

Not every plant needs deadheading. Some modern bedding varieties are self-cleaning, while seed heads can provide food and shelter for wildlife later in the year. Check the plant label before removing them all.

Remove Damaged Growth Carefully

Hot sun, wind and drought can cause brown leaf edges, scorched foliage and faded flowers.

Remove completely dead or damaged material, but avoid hard pruning during a heatwave unless it is essential. Heavy pruning can expose previously shaded leaves and stems to intense sunshine, causing additional scorch.

Wait until temperatures are milder before carrying out major reshaping.

Keep plants tidy by removing fallen flowers and leaves from the surface of container compost, as decaying material can encourage disease.

Protect Newly Planted Specimens

New plants are particularly vulnerable during hot weather because their roots are still concentrated within the original root ball.

Where possible, delay non-essential planting until temperatures are cooler or rain is expected. If planting cannot wait:

• Plant during the morning or evening.

• Water the plant thoroughly before removing its pot.

• Prepare the planting hole before exposing the roots.

• Water thoroughly immediately after planting.

• Apply mulch over moist soil.

• Continue checking the plant throughout its first growing season.

Temporary shade may help vulnerable plants settle during particularly hot conditions. Use horticultural fleece, shade netting or a carefully positioned screen without restricting airflow.

Summer planting is possible, but it requires more aftercare than planting into naturally moist soil in autumn or spring.

Help Your Soil Hold More Water

Healthy soil can store moisture while still allowing excess water to drain away.

Adding well-rotted organic matter can improve the structure of many soils. It helps sandy soil hold more moisture and can improve the workability and drainage of heavy clay.

Useful soil improvers include:

• Home-made garden compost

• Well-rotted manure

• Leaf mould

• Commercial soil conditioner

Large-scale soil improvement is generally best carried out during normal bed preparation rather than in the middle of a hot, dry spell. Digging dry ground extensively can disturb plant roots and cause additional moisture loss.

During summer, concentrate on surface mulching and careful watering. Add larger quantities of organic matter when creating new beds or when conditions become cooler and damper.

Do Not Worry If an Established Lawn Turns Brown

Established lawns often become brown and dormant during prolonged dry weather. This may look concerning, but healthy grass will usually recover once cooler, wetter conditions return.

The RHS advises against routinely watering established lawns during drought. Allowing the lawn to turn brown saves a considerable amount of water.

During dry weather:

• Mow less frequently.

• Raise the mower blades.

• Avoid cutting the grass very short.

• Stop mowing if growth has stopped.

• Leave fine grass clippings in place to help retain moisture.

• Avoid applying lawn feed to dry or dormant grass.

• Reduce heavy wear where possible.

Recently laid turf and newly sown lawns are different and may need regular watering while they establish. Use collected rainwater or suitable recycled water where possible.

Make Better Use of Water

Water is a valuable resource, so use it where it will have the greatest effect.

Ways to reduce mains-water use include:

• Installing water butts

• Using stored rainwater

• Watering directly around plant roots

• Using a watering can rather than a sprinkler

• Fixing leaking hose fittings

• Grouping plants with similar watering needs

• Choosing plants suited to the conditions

• Improving soil with organic matter

• Mulching beds and borders

• Reusing suitable household water during shortages

Rainwater is generally ideal for garden plants and can be collected from sheds, garages, greenhouses and house roofs.

Provide Temporary Shade Where Needed

Some plants can suffer scorched leaves during extreme sunshine and high temperatures, particularly if they are newly planted or naturally prefer woodland conditions.

Japanese maples, camellias and some shade-loving plants may be vulnerable to leaf scorch.

Temporary shade can be provided using:

• Shade netting

• Horticultural fleece

• A garden parasol

• A screen made from lightweight fabric

• Taller pots positioned to shield smaller ones

Make sure the covering does not rest directly on delicate foliage during intense sunshine, as trapped heat may cause further damage. Maintain good airflow around the plant.

Plan for Hotter, Drier Summers

Good plant choices can reduce the amount of watering your garden needs in future.

Choose plants suited to your soil, aspect and local conditions. For sunny, free-draining positions, suitable drought-tolerant choices may include lavender, rosemary, thyme, sedum, echinops, eryngium, cistus and many ornamental grasses.

Drought-tolerant does not mean that a plant never needs water. All newly planted specimens need regular watering while their roots establish.

Grouping plants with similar requirements also makes watering more efficient and reduces the risk of giving some plants too much while others receive too little.

A Hot-Weather Garden Checklist

During prolonged warm weather:

• Check pots and hanging baskets regularly.

• Prioritise new plants, vegetables and vulnerable crops.

• Water early in the morning where possible.

• Water slowly and thoroughly at the root zone.

• Mulch moist, weed-free soil.

• Move vulnerable containers out of intense afternoon sun.

• Deadhead flowering plants where appropriate.

• Avoid feeding severely dry or wilted plants.

• Mow lawns less often and at a higher setting.

• Allow established lawns to turn brown.

• Collect and reuse rainwater.

• Delay unnecessary planting and major pruning.

• Check local hosepipe restrictions before using a hose or irrigation system.

Visit Carpenders Park Garden Centre for Summer Garden Care

Does your garden need a helping hand during hot weather?

Visit Carpenders Park Garden Centre for watering cans, hoses, water butts, peat-free compost, bark, mulch, plant feeds, soil conditioners, garden tools and seasonal plant-care essentials.

Whether you are caring for hanging baskets, refreshing patio pots or helping newly planted borders through a dry spell, careful and targeted attention can make all the difference.

Coming Next Week

Next week in our Monday Garden Guide, we will be looking at perfect patio pots and sharing summer container ideas for every outdoor space.