A heatwave can make the most pleasant of gardens unbearable. But what use is outdoor space if you can't enjoy it year-round?
Even as temperatures climb north of 35 degrees, making a garden feel cooler really comes down to managing shade, adding a spritz of water, and being mindful of the materials you surround yourself with.
Ahead are six fixes for cooling your garden during a heatwave – some require little more than a reshuffling of what you already own, some are worth the longer-term investment, but all help you to make the most of the outdoors.
1. Get an outdoor fan
Rather than dragging the bedroom fan outside, invest in an outdoor misting fan, which throws out a fine spray that cools the surrounding air by several degrees. Rechargeable, battery-powered models designed originally for campers will run for hours without having to trail a lead across the lawn. Tuck it in a shaded spot for the best effect.
2. Address heat-trapping materials
Some of what makes a garden unbearable is sitting beneath you, soaking up the heat of the sun and radiating it back. Outdoor rugs are the worst culprits – they retain heat long after the sun has moved off them – so roll them up and store them until the temperature drops.
Dark plastic and metal furniture work in the same way. The quickest fix is to drape tables, chairs, benches, etc. with frozen towels half an hour before you sit down. Pale throws and cotton covers reflect heat where bare metal absorbs it, so cover your furniture when not in use.
3. Install a retractable awning
A retractable awning turns an exposed patio into somewhere you can sit through the hottest part of the day. Mounted to an exterior wall, it extends to cover a dining table or a cluster of chairs, then winds back when you want to enjoy the gentler evening sun.
Look for an acrylic canopy rather than polyester, as it resists fading and copes better with a sudden summer downpour. Many models now come with a motor and a wind sensor that retracts the awning automatically if a gust picks up, which saves the fabric from damage when you're not at home.
4. Bring in a water feature
A small fountain or a recirculating bowl lowers the air temperature immediately around it. Place it where a breeze can carry the cooled air towards your seat rather than off across the lawn.
A galvanised trough or a generous ceramic bowl works just as well as a dedicated feature if you'd rather not commit to plumbing. Birds and insects will thank you for it, too, plus the sound of trickling water makes a sweltering afternoon feel calmer than it actually is.
3-Tier Cascade Water Feature
5. Hose down the patio
Paving stones store heat all day, which is why a patio can feel like a radiator during a heatwave. A good soak with the hose in the late afternoon cools the surface and the air just above it, and the evaporation that follows takes more heat with it as it goes.
On stone or slate, the effect is immediate and lasts an hour or two.
6. Keep an ice bath close by
Cooling your feet lowers your core body temperature faster than shade or even a fan, so keeping a small tub of cold water with a few ice cubes next to your seat can provide near instant relief. Best done in private, perhaps, but few things are more effective when the heat is at its peak.
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Castlery Sierra Garden Sofa Set
Rachel Edwards is the Style & Interiors Editor for Country Living and House Beautiful, covering all things design and decoration, with a special interest in small space inspiration, vintage and antique shopping, and anything colour related. Her work has been extensively translated by Elle Japan and Elle Decor Spain. Rachel has spent over a decade in the furniture and homeware industry as a writer, FF&E designer, and for many years as Marketing Manager at cult design retailer, Skandium. She has a BA in French and Italian from Royal Holloway and an MA in Jounalism from Kingston University. Follow Rachel on Instagram @rachelaed
