We might love the beach days and the long breezy nights, but our gardens can suffer under the sun. However, there are ways to protect our plants to ensure they’re as summer-proof as possible.
With predicted increases in average temperatures, a greater frequency of very hot days and declining rainfall, gardening over summer has its challenges. Thankfully, when it comes to keeping plants alive – and your enthusiasm sustained – there are loads of smart ways and low-cost options to take the sizzle out of your yard.
Soil
Improving the water-holding capacity of your soil or potting mix is essential. Whether your ground is sandy, clay or somewhere in between, adding in well-aged organics such as compost and manure is an investment that pays dividends.
If establishing a new garden bed, spread the organics thickly and dig them in. For established beds, spread around the plant’s canopy, or “dripline”, where most of the feeder roots are located; carefully turning in, so as not to disturb too many roots. Organic-rich soil promotes a healthy population of microbes keen to turn manure and compost into plant-ready food, too. Long after the hose has been put away and drippers turned off, this organic sponge retains moisture, becoming an essential reservoir for the plant. The “sponge” zone also captures essential nutrients from fertilisers that percolate down. Providing reliable access to water and feed creates happier and more summer resilient plants.
A good way to increase the water-holding capacity of potting mix is Coir, a fibrous material from coconut husks that has amazing water-retention properties. Available in “bricks”, pop one into a wheelbarrow and add water, let it expand tenfold, then work in handfuls of damp, fluffy Coir into your pots and raised garden beds. Coir is another ripper “sponge” that helps drought-proof plants.
Shade
Pavers, concrete paths and bare earth all absorb and radiate heat, so reducing the amount of direct sunlight that hits them over summer will dramatically lower your garden’s temperature. Apart from pergolas and shade sails, there are plenty of “green” shade options.
Mulch is a yard’s best friend. Lightweight, easy to spread and relatively inexpensive, a 50mm to 100mm layer spread over the soil will significantly drop soil temperature. By stopping that baking sun touching the earth, mulch acts as a cooling barrier, cutting evaporation and helping soil hold on to valuable moisture. Adding mulch to your pots also has the same effect.
Trees also play an important shading role. Apart from the important shadow they cast, a tree’s ability to draw ground moisture up and transpire it through their leaves, dramatically cools the surrounding environment, making a tree’s summer shade superior to one given by a building or structure. Shrubs, vines, grasses and groundcovers are also shade-givers, casting shadows and lowering garden temperature.
Water
A light sprinkle with a hose might wet the topsoil, but water will not penetrate and soak in; deep soaks will encourage roots to follow water down. The deeper the roots, the more drought-tolerant and water-smart your plants become.
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Drippers are small devices, often attached to black poly tube or built into specially designed tubing, that deliver water at a measured rate. Snaking through a garden, under a layer of mulch, rows of individual drippers supply plants their water needs in a slow and steady manner. Easy to install, drippers can be linked to an automatic watering system or simply attached to a hose for a time and water-saving way to keep your garden growing and green.
Much work has been done on creating smarter and more efficient “click on” or “hose end” garden sprinklers, that cover more ground thanks to a lower spray angle (which also lessens evaporation.) Ask your garden centre experts for the new generation of options.
Plants
Is there room for hydrangea, azalea and other highly summer-sensitive plants in a waterwise garden? Surprisingly, the answer is yes! While I won’t advocate for excessive numbers, the pleasure that these plant types give many gardeners far outweighs the water consumed. Find space for small groupings where they can get a little TLC and an extra drink.
When it comes to plant choice beyond the waterwise succulents, cacti and Australian natives, there is still a broad plant palette that is able to cope with a South Aussie summer.
Euonymus Easy Hedge is a great choice for a quick-growing border. Compact with thick deep green foliage, let it grow to 50cm or keep it clipped at 20cm, the choice is yours. It’s a very hardy and low maintenance plant.
Viburnum Coppertop is a variety of the immensely popular Viburnum odoratissimum or Sweet Viburnum. The vibrant bronze tips draw the eye, making this a real showstopper. Growing to around two and half metres, Viburnum Coppertop makes a brilliant medium to low hedge or stunning specimen plant.
Convolvulus Silver Bush is a groundcover that offers masses of white flowers in summer with beautiful silver leaves all year round.
Of course, there are also roses: Adelaide is Australia’s rose capital and these full sun, incredibly hardy blooming beauties are perfect at adding long-term colour to a summer garden.
Creating a water smart garden gives your fruit trees, homegrown vegetables, colourful perennials, and many other plants a chance to survive, thrive and be enjoyed.
