Drought conditions
Jan Wright
Posts: 23
Anyone got any tips and ideas how to retain moisture in the borders while we are having all this hot sunshine please? I am fed up of watering the garden early morning and after the sun has gone down. It is taking up too much time but I cannot do nothing and watch my beautiful plants flag in this heatwave we are having at the moment. The containers are drying out as fast as I am watering too!
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Not much now except carry on watering-you could have mulched the beds earlier in the year but even that would make little difference at the moment
Just something to live and cope with-you are watering at the right times-the only comfort is you are not alone
Thank you "Lazy Gardener" for replying to my post. Yes I agree with mulching the ground - something I will have to do ready for next year. What do you recommend for using as a mulch please?
If you are planting shrub border or trees or a new section of flower bed, you could lay a seeper hose around the area. Then you just cover it with mulch, and plug it in to the hosepipe when you need to. The water goes to the roots only, and the tops stay dry and are less susceptible to rot. The water doesn't evaporate off in the same way as sprinkling the top soil with water from a spray or watering can.
Thank you Verdun (Hello again) & Fidgetbones for your replies. Good suggestions! Any plant suggestions for the herbacious borders for drought resistant please? The seeper hose is a good idea from fidgetbones. When I buy new plants from now on I will buy drought resistant ones! Thank you for all your advice!
One good summer does not mean we have to change things for the weather after all how many summers like this do we get lets be honest. I love watering the garden and greenhouses as you can keep an eye on your plants on the way round for any problems maybe it's just me that thinks that way but love this weather.
Andy I'm like you. I enjoy going round looking at everything as I water it
We don't usually have too much trouble with lack of water here do we Andy?!!
A good soak and a mulch is very helpful especially if you have a lot of planting. I'd still do that even now. I put a few new shrubs in a small area at my gate about 3/4 weeks ago which had just been weedy grass containing a spirea that I took out. Gave them a good start with plenty of compost, a bit of blood,fish and bone, watered well and mulched. There's been little or no rain since and they've only been watered a few times. All thriving.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Fairygirl your right water is something we have plenty of in this area but another week in this hot weather and some councils down south will put hosepipe bans on.
I can't seem to be able to get the watering right. I never know if I am over or under watering. If some of my plants are going yellow at the bottom is this is over watering? also, my petunias are budding, but going dry and not opening up, another sign of over watering? if this is the case when and how should I water ?