Tips for flower bed maintenance in summer

As with any change of the seasons in gardening, it can take a bit of effort to switch up your routine and adapt to the changing climate. The likelihood is that you’ve spent the springtime planting seeds in the hopes of producing a spectacular garden ready for the summertime. Now, the time has come to help maintain this and prevent all your hard work from going to waste. According to UK Census data, 87% of UK households have a garden, so most people can put these tips into practice.

Unfortunately, while many plants love the sunny weather, there’s also a risk of overexposure to the heat. That’s why it’s important to switch up your gardening habits so that you can stay on top of everything. Here’s how to get started.

Early morning watering 

Make sure you beat the sun to it by watering your plants nice and early so they stay fresh before the day heats up. This also helps to prevent heat scald, which can happen when they are watered in the sunlight. Gardening and being out in nature are routinely associated with good mental health, so why not use this to your advantage and make the most of those summer mornings? Set time aside to make this a regular part of your summer routine.

Shade cloth 

Adding shade to your garden will do a huge amount of good during the summertime. Many people opt for a shade by purchasing sheets of light cloth or tarpaulin. You simply lay this over your plants to protect them from direct sunlight. Just be cautious of any fragile flowers such as sweet peas. You don’t want to compromise their appearance or their sweet fragrance!

Grass or pergola 

Another way of introducing shade in your garden is by leaving any grass surrounding your bedding a little longer than you ordinarily would. This way, subtle sections of shade can be enjoyed by your flowers, plus it will help to add a touch of character to your garden. Alternatively, you can add a pergola with vertical, climbing plants growing up it. This will help to add shade to this area of your garden and is another excuse to add a decorative piece to proceedings. Why not go to town with customising it?

Mulch

Mulch is applied on top of the soil and is used to help retain soil moisture, making it important for biodiversity purposes. Adding mulch around your plants will also help to prevent water evaporation, which is key to helping everything stay well-watered. The lighter the colour of the mulch you apply, the more sunlight will be reflected. This means that the soil surface can be kept nice and cool.