The sun is beaming, the factor 50 is out and people are complaining about how hot it is, which can only mean one thing… summer has officially arrived!

As exciting as this time of year is, the constant sun can have an effect on your garden, making your lawn dry and your plants wilt. There are however some essential tasks you can perform to once again have the garden of envy from your neighbors!

Follow these simple tips and your garden will be back to its blooming self in no time!

Opt for Sun-Loving Plants

Flowers such as marigolds, geraniums, petunias, impatiens, begonias, and zinnias thrive in the sunshine! Find a place in your garden that gets at least 4 hours of direct sunlight a day and plant the easy grow annual seeds. That way your garden will look lovely and colourful every summer!

Watch Your Water

Watering your plants is an essential part of gardening. But, too much water can do more harm than good. So how do you know how much is too much? The best way is to water with a slow trickle as you want it to soak into the soil as fast as it’s coming out and not just remain at the top. This way, you’ll be able to tell when they’ve had just enough and not just be overflowing the top.

Timing Matters

The best time to water your plants is first thing in the morning or after 4pm. The air is usually cooler around this time and the water won’t evaporate as quickly as it would in hot temperatures. Depending on which type of plants you have, its best to water them daily during the summer. Check our our handy guide on how often to water your plants for more tips.

Use Fertiliser

It’s not essential, but using fertiliser will keep your flowers healthy for longer! You can apply liquid fertiliser to your watering can or some can be attached to your hose. Do this every 10 to 14 days to keep your garden blooming!

Pot to Perfection

Potted plants are vulnerable to overheating, especially those in terracotta pots. If you use potted plant saucers, be careful if you’re filling them with water as this encourages root rot and mosquito breeding. Instead, fill the saucer with sand and keep the sand moist, this will mean your plants and roots stay healthy.

The Longer the Lawn, the Better

It’s a misconception that cutting your lawn low will reduce regrowth. In fact, doing so will encourage weeds to grow and could mean your lawn is left looking brown and bare. Instead, keep your grass as long as your mower will allow and your lawn will stay fresh and weed-free! If your lawnmower could do with some TLC, check out our tips on how to get it back into shape!

Look out for Pests

Pests can be a pain in your garden! Ants can build nests which deprive flowers of water, slugs will ruin greenery and grasshoppers will eat your grass. No fear, here are some simple and harmless ways you can repel pests from your garden.

Keep Your Cool

If you’re an avid gardener, a little bit of heat won’t stop you from doing your chores! But remember, it’s a lot safer, and probably more productive, if you complete heavy-duty tasks like lawn mowing, in the cool of the day. Don’t forget to apply your sun cream and take your hats and sunnies out with you!

For more gardening advice, check out these money saving gardening tips!

Tags: Gardening Tips, summer