The hot summer can be a challenging time for gardeners but there is much that can be done to protect your plants and shrubs. With enough insight and knowledge of the terrain, hot weather can be used to a gardener’s advantage. Here are a few pointers to help maintain your garden in the heat of summer and to prepare for the autumn and winter months ahead.
Those Heady Hot Days
The hot weather can often be a nuisance for gardeners with increased leaf drop and the scorching of leaves, but some seeds respond well to increased temperatures which can help seed pods to open from the resin that has sealed them.
During the summer months, remote gardens and bushland are at a level of risk of bush fire but many native and wild species have adapted to this. Some banksias, hakeas and eucalypts have come to rely on bushfire to open their seed pods where they could otherwise lay dormant for years. Bushfire can also help regenerate the bush and help seeds to germinate through scorching and exposure to smoke.
Insect activity is also greatly increased during the summer and while some may see this as bothersome, there are many insects that are beneficial to a garden. The bees are busier than ever and are vital for pollination. Lady beetles will also be more abundant but don’t be fooled by their pretty exterior, they are in fact a predator that will kill off pest insects.
Spending time outdoors in the long hot days will increase the risk of heatstroke and sunburn so choose your time carefully. The quiet of early morning and the lingering daylight of the evenings are ideal. After dinner is a good time to catch up on garden maintenance including trimming, mowing, mulching, weeding. It is also a good time for watering which can help cool the garden down and get ready for another hot day ahead.
To tidy up your garden and bring it to life with summer bloomers, first trim any heat damaged growth. At this time of year, water plants such as lilly pillies, crepe myrtles, sunflowers and dahlias are the best option. Marigold seedlings are also hardy enough to survive once not already in a self-seeding cycle in the garden.
Caring:
When planting, ensure you follow instructions for spacing. A more crowded garden will need more water and more fertiliser. Make sure to cover the soil with a layer of mulch; 5 to 10 cm should suffice and keep the soil moist by checking soil dampness regularly.
It is best to water the garden in the early morning or evening when it is cooler. Watering during the heat of the day will result in evaporation and unless the aim is to create a cloud, it will be a waste of water and of time. Daytime watering also introduces the potential for burn damage and brown spots. Under sun rays, water droplets will behave like a magnifying glass and scorch dry leaves. There is also a risk of fungal problems if the water doesn’t evaporate quick enough.
Plan Ahead:
When planning for autumn, it is best to wait for temperatures to drop enough before transplanting small trees. Now is a good time to prune the trees to reduce heat stress and leaf drop so they are ready to me moved. Setting up new garden beds, removing spring and summer veg and improving soils for winter crops is also best done now in preparation for the seasons to come.
When planning for winter vegetables, it is best to wait for autumn before sowing. Hedges can also wait for a final prune before the slowing of growth in winter. It is at the end of winter that most of the garden will benefit from an autumn fertiliser but be careful to use the correct fertilisers for native species. Some Australian natives require a specialised fertiliser (low phosphorus) in early spring only. This is also a good time to wait for the autumn leaves to finish falling before pruning both fruiting and ornamental deciduous trees.
If you want to use containers or plant pots, they work well for bulbs and veg, and succulent bowls are ideal for both indoor and out.
There is no time of year that cannot be used to both enjoy its seasonal bounty and to prepare for the new season to come. Temperatures and conditions will always change and with a little care and attention, your garden can be at it’s best at any time of the year.
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