The continuing heatwave calls for a little outside-the-box thinking when it comes to keeping your garden looking glorious.
Hot spells can be tough on our hardworking gardens (spare a thought for your delicate dahlias), but there are some creative and unusual solutions – some of which you may not have considered before – to get your greenery through.
From reusing household water to creating clever pockets of shade (hello bed sheets!), here are some surprising ways to help your plants cope with the heat.
1. Reuse unsalted pasta, rice and vegetable water
Once cooled, cooking water can be reused on garden plants, as long as it has not been salted, seasoned or oiled. Vegetable water may also contain trace nutrients, making it a cost-effective way to give thirsty plants a drink.
2. Collect bath and shower water
In a heatwave, lightly used bath or shower water can be repurposed for ornamental (and house) plants, particularly if you use mild, eco-friendly soaps. Avoid using it on edible crops, especially salad leaves or anything eaten raw.
3. Use wool to help soil hold on to moisture
Wool can be surprisingly useful in pots, hanging baskets and raised beds, where soil can dry out quickly during hot spells.
Haldi-Kranich Wood, wool specialist at British Wool, says: “As more people look for sustainable and natural ways to care for their gardens, sheep wool is becoming an increasingly popular material for gardeners looking to improve soil health and water retention naturally.
“Woollen fibres can absorb and retain large amounts of moisture without feeling damp, helping soil stay hydrated for longer during warmer weather. This makes it especially useful in pots, hanging baskets and raised beds, where soil can dry out surprisingly quickly during hotter spells.
“Gardeners can use loose wool or wool pellets by mixing a small handful into compost or placing a layer around plants as mulch. The coarse texture can even help deter slugs and snails naturally, which is always a bonus for keen gardeners.”
Try British brands like Romney Marsh Wools and Chimney Sheep for mulch and more.
4. Move pots together to create a mini microclimate
Grouping container plants together can help them cope better in hot weather. When pots are clustered, they cast shade on each other, reduce exposure to drying winds and create a slightly more humid pocket of air around the plants.
Place the thirstiest pots (think hydrangeas, hostas, fuchsias, tomatoes, cucumbers, salad leaves, basil and mint) in the middle and tougher, drought-tolerant plants (like lavender, rosemary, thyme, sage, pelargoniums, sedums, salvias and ornamental grasses) around the outside.
5. Create temporary shade with household items
A parasol, old bedsheet, laundry airer, garden chair or even a beach umbrella can be used to protect vulnerable pots, young plants and leafy veg during the hottest part of the day. Nifty.
6. Make a slow-release bottle waterer
Fill an old plastic bottle with water, pierce a few tiny holes in the cap, and bury it upside down near the roots of a thirsty plant. It allows water to seep slowly into the soil instead of evaporating from the surface.
Summer gardening edit
John Lewis VegTrug
Metal Square Digging Spade
