Protect your garden from the summer heat by using simple water wise ideas.

The heat is on! The key watchwords for a successful garden during the hot dry summer weather are ‘mulch’ and ‘water’. Consider this advice to protect your garden from the summer heat this month.

Mulch - Spread a 10cm thick mulch of organic material across your borders which will help to conserve moisture in the soil. Studies have shown that 50% of water is lost to evaporation in soils that have no mulch. If you have no mulching material, plant water wise groundcovers such as gazania, vygies or the creeping foxglove (Asystasia gangetica) 

When to water - Avoid watering in the middle of the day when as much as 30% of the water is lost to evaporation. Instead, try to water in early morning so that foliage is dry by 10am. Consider installing drip irrigation which is the most water smart irrigation system on the market.

How to water - Water trees, shrubs and large perennials less often, but more deeply, to encourage them to send out deep roots. Plants with a strong, deep root system will be happy for weeks or months. If you are looking for a tree this month.

Use gels - Mix water-retaining polymer gels into the potting soil when planting up containers or baskets. Also used in products such as disposable diapers, the polymers soak up water and release it to the roots of plants on hot, dry days. 

Choose water smart plants - Make a note of the plants that are thriving in neighbouring gardens during the summer months. For a sunny area, try agapanthus aloes, bush violets (Barleria spp.), bulbine, felicia, cotyledon, othonna and wild rosemary (Eriocephalus africanus). For shade, try begonias, the polka-dot plant, ribbon plant or weeping anthericum (Chlorophytum saundersiae).

Lawns - Raise the level of your lawnmower so that the grass blades are cut 30% higher. Lawn cut on a higher level will survive the heat better and will need less watering.