Caring for your garden in dry weather

Until recently, it feels like it’s been months since we’ve had any substantial rain here in Hampshire.  But hot summers and hosepipe bans are increasingly part of the challenges we gardeners have to face.  Although the natural world is great at adapting, the reality is that global temperatures and weather patterns are changing more quickly than nature can cope with.  In our gardens, there are two ways in particular we can help nature manage: firstly, we can have a dry weather plan (which we’ll talk about in this article) and; secondly, we can plan gardens which are more suited to dry conditions (watch out for a blog next month on that).

Advanced planning

As with so much in life, it pays to be prepared, both in the long-term and when a dry spell is forecast.  Here are some simple tactics you can employ ahead of time.

Get water wise – make sure your garden or outside space is collecting enough rainwater.  There is no legal limit to the number of water butts you can install, only perhaps considerations of space and weight (for example, on a balcony), so make sure you’re collecting as much as you reasonably can.

Make bottle waterers – when you plant or repot something, especially if it is quite a thirsty plant, think about adding a watering aid.  The easiest way is to save a plastic bottle, cut off the bottom and make a few holes in the lid, then bury it upside down next to your plant so you can water directly into it.  Not only is it a great way to get a second use from plastic bottles but it helps guide water straight to the roots.  You can also buy watering spikes or spiked lids for plastic bottles online if you don’t fancy making your own.

Mulch – any mulch material will help keep the soil cool and retain water, not to mention reduce weeds which will compete for moisture.  Organic mulches (leaf mould, straw, home made compost etc) will also break down and provide nutrients in time, too.

Group your pots - if you garden in pots and containers, move them together in clusters.  Not only does this make watering them easier, but they can provide some shade for each other and help create a moist, micro-climate amongst the pots. 

During dry weather

We can all recognise the signs of a lack of water in our gardens: some plants might start to wilt, the lawn may start yellowing and our water butts and ponds may be less full than we’d like.  This is the time to deploy your dry weather plan, especially if there is no rain forecast for a while longer.  Here’s what we do:

Lawn care – Leave your lawn a little longer; if it’s dry, your lawn won’t grow as fast anyway but a little extra height helps to keep it shady and trap any moisture around the roots.  And don’t water it!  Lawns are very resilient plants, generally, so accept that it may look less green until the next shower and prioritise the water for plants that really need it.

Prioritise what you water – some plants need more than others so be focused on the needier cases first.  As a rule of thumb: pots and hanging baskets first (unless you’re willing to accept them as collateral damage); newly planted shrubs and trees second; herbaceous plants next; trees, shrubs and plants under two years old fourth and; finally, established plants should have the root systems established to cope with most dry spells so only think about watering them if the weather has been particularly extreme.

Plan when you water – Watering in the heat of the day simply means more will evaporate.  Leave your watering to the early morning or later evening to reduce that, and enjoy pottering in your garden in the cool, too.  Remember, one good soak (so the water can really penetrate to the roots) is better than many light sprinklings!

Use grey water – take a bucket into the shower and save your washing up water!  While we wouldn’t want to drink it ourselves, soaps and shampoos will be diluted enough that this grey water won’t harm your plants.  Grey water cannot be stored (don’t tip it into your water butt as you risk it becoming stagnant and smelly) but used as it’s created, once it’s cooled, is a great way to save water. 

Weed – fortunately, weeds don’t grow much either when it’s dry but they will compete with your plants for any precious moisture they can find so do dig them out. 

Shade your greenhouse – if you have a polytunnel or greenhouse, think about adding a cover to provide extra shade.  While we do want them to be warm, it is possible they can get too warm, which means your plants will also dry out more quickly.

After the drought

Finally, the rain has come and you can almost hear your garden drinking it all up! As well as dampening down the dust and dropping the temperature, hopefully that rain is really soaking in and not running off; you can help ensure it does by forking over the soil to break up any ‘crust’ which has formed.  Now your garden is starting to recover, it’s time to take stock so you can be more prepared for next time.

Make notes – think about what plants seemed to cope well and which needed extra care.  It could be that simply moving things around (for example, to a shadier spot) could help some plants cope better next time.  Of course, noting the plants that did well will help you to shop smarter in future, too!

Do more advanced planning – now you and your garden have survived, is there anything else you could have done in advance to prepare for it?  The next dry spell may not be far off so you can be even better prepared for that.

Plan a dry garden – if anything didn’t survive, or you want a bit of a rethink, consider planting a garden better suited to dry conditions.  With our changing climate, it is unrealistic to expect to continue gardening as we have always done but that’s not to say that we can’t still have beautiful gardens.  (For our tips on planning a more drought tolerant garden, try these.)