Strategies to Maintain Coolness in a Garden During Summer Heatwave - Nine Guidelines to Ensure Safety for Your Family and Plants
In the midst of a heatwave, keeping your garden cool and comfortable becomes a priority. Here's a comprehensive guide on how to do just that, covering watering strategies, creating shade, caring for lawn and plants, and using cooling aids.
### Watering Strategies
* Watering early in the morning (before 9 am) allows moisture to soak into the soil before evaporation heats it away. * Water deeply but infrequently to encourage roots to grow deeper and avoid drought stress. * Use efficient irrigation such as drip irrigation or soaker hoses to deliver water precisely to roots, minimizing evaporation. * Avoid overwatering; check soil moisture with a meter before watering as some plants reduce water uptake in extreme heat.
### Creating Shade
* Shade cloths can reduce temperatures under their cover by up to 10 degrees while allowing airflow if suspended properly over plants. * Parasols or garden umbrellas offer localized shade for vulnerable plants and seating areas. * Planting trees and climbers, such as Cotinus Coggygria 'Royal Purple', bamboo, and Silver Birches, provide natural cooling shade, blocking intense sun while allowing airflow.
### Lawn Care
* Deep watering early in the morning helps lawn grass survive heat stress. * Avoid heavy use during heatwaves to prevent damage. * Hydrating artificial grass, such as the Shark FlexBreeze, is crucial during a heatwave to prevent it from reaching scorching temperatures.
### Cooling Aids: Fans and Water Features
* Outdoor or indoor fans can improve air circulation, reducing heat stress in the garden. * Adding water features like water bowls or fountains provides cooling through evaporation, lowering air temperature and adding soothing sound.
### Mulching
* Applying organic mulch, such as wood chips or bark, conserves soil moisture, suppresses weeds that compete for water, and keeps roots cool.
### Moving and Protecting Vulnerable Plants
* Move potted or sensitive plants to shaded or cooler spots, or indoors if heat is extreme. * For delicate plants, a humidity dome or terrarium maintains moisture and reduces heat stress temporarily.
### Garden Furniture Materials
* Choose furniture made from light woods or fabrics that don't retain heat to keep sitting areas cooler. Avoid dark or metal furniture that absorbs heat excessively.
### Additional Recommendations
* Replace large concrete or brick areas with permeable materials like gravel and clay pavers which absorb less heat and allow water infiltration. * Incorporate drought-resistant or native plants such as lavender, succulents, or yarrow which thrive in heat and require less water.
By implementing these strategies, gardeners can maintain a thriving, cool garden space even under extreme heat conditions.
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**Summary Table for Quick Reference**
| Aspect | Tips/Actions | |-----------------------|-------------------------------------------------------| | Watering | Water early, deeply, use drip/soaker hoses; mulch soil| | Shade | Use shade cloth, parasols, plant trees/climbers | | Lawn Care | Deep watering, limit use, hydrate artificial grass | | Cooling Aids | Use fans; add water features for evaporative cooling | | Plant Protection | Move sensitive plants; use terrariums/humidity domes | | Garden Furniture | Choose light-colored, breathable materials | | Surfaces | Replace heat-retaining surfaces with permeable ones | | Plant Selection | Use heat/drought-tolerant plants |
Houseplants can also benefit from watering strategies such as watering deeply and infrequently to encourage roots to grow deeper, and choosing watering methods that minimize evaporation. Proper garden design, including the use of shade providers like climbing plants and parasols, can help create a cool and comfortable lifestyle in the home-and-garden space. Cleaning hacks such as using wood chips or bark as mulch can help conserve soil moisture and maintain a cool environment for plants.
