Ensuring Happy Plants

At this time of year, plenty of us are going to be either traveling away too see family, or just too busy at home to spend much time in the garden. Here are some tips to help get your garden through this trying period:

Mulch heavily – this is essential at any time of year but is even more important in the summer heat. Being well mulched will prevent the soil overheating around the plant roots and help minimise evaporation from the soil. It will also help suppress weeds so the garden keeps looking good while you are busy enjoying the silly season.

Slow Waterers – products such as water spikes, leaky hoses on a timer controlled tap or even a bucket with a small hole punched in the bottom sitting on the ground next to a favored plant; Any of these things will give your plants a better chance of survival if you are going to be away for a few days and cant find anyone to water for you.

Provide Shade – One unfortunate consequence of Australia having inherited our farming history mostly from the British is that we are still in the habit of treating our plants as though they need as much sunlight as possible. However one of the important things to keep in mind is that Australia gets much more sun, and a higher intensity of light than Britain and the other northern areas where most of our plants originate. By covering plants with shadecloth (<50%) or even trimmed branches like palm fronds you will help to stop them from wilting and burning under the harsh Australian sun. Shade will also lower evaporation rates allowing your plants to survive just that little bit longer between waters.

And of course a longer term solution – save the seeds of your plants based on how well they survived the hottest days and neglect and in a few years time you may have a strain that can stand up to this weather as well as any of the locals!