Too hot to garden?

20 ways for an Aussie gardener to make it through the summer

For those ‘fry an egg on the car bonnet’ kind of days, it helps to remember the basic tenets of gardening through an Aussie summer 1 WATER EARLY

Even if your watering activities aren’t currently governed by water restrictions, you gain little but sunburn by standing out there in the midday or early afternoon sun. Water first thing in the morning to hydrate plants in need before it gets too hot. Or water in the cool of the late afternoon, but avoid wetting foliage, if possible, and allow time for the foliage to dry before nightfall. Water left on leaves can accelerate the onset of mildew diseases, particularly on tomatoes, strawberries and zucchini.

2 TOP UP MULCH

The best way to boost your watering efforts in the garden is to maintain a good layer of mulch. This works like a blanket, reducing evaporation and holding moisture in the soil for much longer. The mulch smothers weeds, too, reducing your workload. If the soil is bare, or the mulch is looking thin, lay down a fresh organic mulch to a depth of 7–10cm. The best time to do this is straight after a deep soaking.

3 PUT TIMERS ON TAPS

If local water restrictions permit their use, irrigation and sprinkler systems can deliver water to garden beds in a precise way, as can dripper devices placed in pots. Put a timer on any equipment like this, to regulate when the water is delivered to your plants. The best times to set on your timer are early morning or late afternoon.

4 GET A WATER TANK

We keep saying it, but if you’re a gardener, you really do need to get a water tank. It gives you peace of mind that you have access to a resource that in many areas is no longer available around the clock to gardeners, and there’s a great feeling of satisfaction in knowing you are self-sufficient with water for the garden.

5 SHADE PRECIOUS PLANTS

Throw some shadecloth over any flowers, vegies and other heat-sensitive plants that are at risk of burning or becoming mortally dry and wilted over summer. Shadecloth is graded according to how much light it shuts out. A maximum shade rating of 25 per cent is recommended for most things – providing too much shade to sun-loving plants long-term can cause new growth to become lanky and weak. When the temperatures soar, your plants will thank you for the protection.

6 KEEP POTS COOL

Many sun-loving plants in pots appreciate a little reprieve from the furnace-like conditions of a sunny courtyard in peak summer. Move them to a cooler spot temporarily, or spray their foliage with an anti-transpirant. These products coat and protect foliage, reducing the effects of heat stress and sunburn. Water more regularly to keep the mix cool, and apply mulch. If the water is running down the sides of the root ball and not soaking in, submerge the pot in water for 10 minutes, or apply a wetting agent.

7 KEEP DEADHEADING

For gardenias, hydrangeas, roses, buddlejas or any other repeat-flowering plant, trimming those flower heads (and perhaps displaying them in a vase out of the heat) has the wonderful effect of prompting regrowth and more flowering.

8 LET GRASS GROW LONGER

Raise the deck on your lawnmower so the grass is left longer when you mow. When you cut it short, the soil and roots are more exposed to sunlight and heat, and the lawn dries out faster.

9 PUT IN A SHADEHOUSE

Imagine having a place to house tender potted plants in summer. A shadehouse is also a comfortable place to potter about, and a great spot to grow heat-sensitive herbs and leafy greens in pots.

10 MAKE USE OF LAWN CLIPPINGS

Freshly mown grass is a fabulous additive to compost piles. Make the most of your increased supply of lawn clippings in summer by stepping up your compost production. If you are really keen, clear a space by the fence for your neighbour to dump their clippings as well.

11 LIQUID FEED PLANTS IN NEED

Vegies and flowering plants, in particular, appreciate the quick boost that liquid food gives them, replenishing the nutrients that have leached out through summer watering. Apply to any plants that are working hard or looking tired and hungry.

12 APPLY LIQUID SEAWEED

These mixtures strengthen the cell walls in plants and encourage more root development, which helps the plants withstand heat stress. Apply to the roots or as a foliar spray once a week.

13 NOTE YOUR BEST PERFORMERS

Keep a record of the plants in your garden that thrive in the heat of summer, as well as those that droop or underperform. This helps you work out what you could be planting more of, and which plants could be replaced or moved to cooler, more protected spots. (See page 38 for more on keeping a garden diary.)

14 PLANT A PICK ME UP

Give yourself a lift by planting something simple and pretty, or productive, such as a pot of succulents, more tomato seedlings for a late crop, or a splash of daisies for summer colour.

15 GROW A SHADE TREE

Shade is at a premium in summer, so consider planting a tree or two. When determining the best position, look at how it will affect the space in winter when you may not want shade. Choosing a deciduous tree might be the solution. (See 7 Superb Trees for a Small Garden on page 14.)

16 SOLARISE WEEDS

Forget about pulling out weeds. Slash them if they are tall, then cover the weedy area with black plastic. The intense heat below the plastic kills the weeds and eliminates seeds as well.

17 COVER UP

Remember to ‘slip slop slap’ and wear a hat or cap. Don’t let sunburn or, even worse, skin cancers spoil your time in the garden. Cover up and carry on.

18 WORK IN THE COOL

It’s no fun working in the scorching heat. Plan your most demanding gardening tasks for the early and late times of the day, and enjoy the results at other times while kicking back in the shade with a cool drink.

19 INSTALL A WATER MISTER

Water misters work on the simple principle of evaporative cooling, and basic systems are cheap and easy to install. Set one up in an outdoor dining or entertainment space to take the edge off a hot day.

20 TAKE IT INSIDE

When it’s too hot to work outside, get your gardening fix indoors by beefing up your collection of house plants and creating that jungly plantscape you’ve dreamt about.