Heat in the Garden – How to Protect Your Plants from Drought Stress – finch

Because the heat becomes a problem for the garden

Many plants can tolerate brief periods of drought, but weeks of heat and lack of rain quickly lead to drought damage. The leaves curl up, the flowers dry up, the lawn turns brown. Especially young plants, those in pots and those with shallow roots suffer from a lack of water. At the same time, water evaporates from the soil much faster at high temperatures.

You can effectively support your garden with these tips:

1. Proper watering in hot weather

Many plants die not because of too little water, but because of incorrect watering. These tips will help you:

• Water early in the morningpreferably between 5:00 and 9:00. So less water evaporates and the plants absorb it optimally.
• Deposit rare but pervasive. This encourages the roots to grow deeper. This makes the plants more resistant to drought.
• Water near the ground directly to the roots, not over the foliage. Drops on leaves act like burning glass in the hot sun and can cause burns.
• Usage Rainwater from the rain barrel. It has a low limestone content and generally has a pleasant temperature.

Tip: Plant one when you plant new plants Giessrand A. This is a small wall of soil around the root area that prevents water from draining away. And when planting, first dip the ball of soil widely into the water and thoroughly mud the plants. HERE’S how to support them perfectly as they grow.

We have collected the most important watering tips and how to understand which plants need more water than others in this blog post: Water the garden correctly, efficiently and sustainably.

2. Protect the soil with mulch

Mulching is one of the simplest and most effective ways to protect the soil from drying out:

• Mulch acts as a protective shield: it retains moisture in the soil, prevents sharp temperature changes and suppresses weeds.
• Use bark mulch, straw, chopped twigs, grass clippings (but apply only a thin layer) or sheep’s wool.
• A layer of mulch is especially recommended under shrubs, roses and perennials.

Important: Before mulching, you should water the soil well and incorporate some compost. When using bark mulch and wood chips, an organic fertilizer such as horn chips or granulated cow dung should also be incorporated first, so that the plants are well nourished.

3. Protect potted plants properly

Potted plants are particularly sensitive to heat because their root space in the pot is limited. Here’s how you can protect them:

• Use if possible large, bright planters. Light-colored containers reflect sunlight and do not heat up as quickly.
• If necessary, place the pots in a semi-shaded place in midsummer.
• Avoid dark or stony surfaces. Especially on the south side, these heat up extremely and re-radiate the heat.
• Use one Coastersto collect excess water.
• Mix Clay balls or expanded clay under the substrate so that the water is stored better.
• Also cover the substrate with mulch.

Suggestion: In hot weather it is better to water in the morning rather than in the evening. Wet soil in the pot can cool significantly at night and damage the roots.

4. Use shadows specifically

In very hot summers, additional shade in the beds can make a difference:

• Use larger trees or tall perennials to provide natural shade for sensitive nearby plants.
• Usage Awnings, shade nets or trellises with climbing plants such as clematis or ivy.
• You can place potted plants under trees or on a shaded house wall.

5. Ornamental grasses as natural shade providers

Ornamental grasses not only provide structure to the garden, but also protection:

Tip: Leave the grass first Cut back in springso that they still serve as protection and structure in winter.

6. Prepare your lawn for heat

Lawns are simply particularly sensitive. If you want your lawn to stay green longer, make sure:

• Mow higher: Leave the lawn 4-5 cm high. Longer stems shade the soil and reduce evaporation.
• Mow less in persistent drought.
• Water only in the morning when drought stress is actually evident (step marks remain visible).
• Consider whether you want to use traditional lawns long-term Dried herb blends I want to change. These are special seed mixtures made up of grass species that are particularly resistant to drought and ideal for sunny and poor places. They require much less water than conventional lawns and are therefore a good choice for gardens particularly affected by heat.

7. Accustom plants to drought

Formation time: The so-called “root formation” makes the plants more robust in the long term:

• Avoid daily watering. Water less often, but then enough.
• This means plants form deeper roots and are better equipped to withstand heat waves. This works well for plants with deep roots, i.e. many trees and perennials, but less so for plants with shallow roots and many ground covers.

8. Emergency Tips for Extreme Heat

If temperatures rise significantly, some immediate measures can help:

• Shading nets stretch out on sensitive beds.
• Pouring bags or clay jugs (Ollas) which release water slowly and effectively.
• If it’s very hot, bring potted plants indoors or into the shade for a short time.

DIY Tip: Simply build Olla yourself

Ollas are unglazed clay pots that are buried in the ground and release water evenly to the roots through their porous walls. Especially in hot summers, they help save water and provide plants with a reliable supply. And the best thing: you can easily make them yourself!

You need:

• 2 unglazed terracotta pots (e.g. diameter 15-20 cm)
• Terracotta or stone coasters as lids
• Silicone glue (waterproof)
• Optional: cork or clay stopper to close the bottom hole

Here’s how:

1. Close the hole: Seal the hole in the bottom of a pot with a cork, stone or clay. Alternatively you can also use silicone.
2. Glue the pots together: Place the two pots on top of each other so that the openings meet. Seal all around with waterproof silicone and let dry completely.
3. Insert: The finished Olla is buried so deep that only the top opening protrudes.
4. Fill and cover: Fill with water and cover with a lid or stone to prevent dirt or mosquitoes from entering.

A DIY Olla is particularly suitable for raised beds, planters or flower beds in the dry summer months.

9. Choose heat-resistant plants

By choosing the right plants you can also prevent long-term heat problems; This is worth considering when planning new beds due to climate change:

• Rely on robust species that require less water.
• They are particularly suitable Ornamental grasses, wild roses, lavender, sage, rue OR Timiano.
• Many drought resistant shrubs and trees you can find them in our articles:

10 Drought Resistant Shrubs for the Garden in Climate Change
Shrubs for sunny locations: robust and easy to care for

Conclusion

Your garden doesn’t have to become a desert even in hot summers. With a little planning, the right watering technique, smart shade protection and the right choice of plants, you can make your garden drought-friendly or responsive in short order. 🙂

Happy gardening! 🙂