The UK's relentless summer heatwaves, with temperatures soaring over 30 degrees, have left many gardens dry, yellow, and struggling. With hosepipe bans in place, gardeners are searching for alternative solutions. According to home improvement retailer Wickes, searches for 'plant protection' and 'garden shade' have soared by 2400% in the last month alone.
Expert Advice for a Resilient Garden
Clair Albone, Senior Category Manager for Gardens at Wickes, recommends focusing on soil health and creating shade. 'Improving soil health is a key tactic. By ensuring grass and lawns retain moisture, gardens stand a better chance of surviving during heatwaves,' she says. Applying a generous layer of mulch helps the ground retain moisture by reducing evaporation, and enriching the soil with compost improves its structure and water-holding capacity.
Albone also suggests building shade solutions. 'A summer heatwave doesn't mean sacrificing a lush, green garden. Easy shade solutions, like a DIY shade canopy, is an easy and effective way to shield plants from the scorching sun, and it offers instant protection.'
Essential Products to Protect Your Garden
To help gardeners, we've selected key products from Wickes that can make a difference, no matter the size of the outdoor space.
- Apollo Weed Control Landscape Fabric (£12) – This fabric controls weeds and protects grass or plants from harsh sun rays while retaining soil moisture and allowing light and air in.
- Smart Garden Plant Stix (£2.50) – These rods keep wilting plants upright and can secure landscape fabric in place.
- Charles Bentley Steel Pergola Gazebo (£225) – A steel-framed pergola with a retractable roof, ideal for creating shade on grass or patios.
- Water Butt Kit – 210L (£39) – Stores up to 210L of rainwater, simple to install and use, helping you save water for drier months.
- Strata Amesbury Ash Decorative Waterbutt – 120L (£75) – Aesthetically pleasing option that doubles as a flower pot.
- Bark Chippings (£13) – An alternative to grass or pebbles that suppresses weeds, retains moisture, offers thermal protection, and reduces fungal disease.
Practical Steps for Long-Term Garden Health
These upgrades offer practical ways to protect gardens during heatwaves. Investing in mulch, shade solutions, and rainwater collection can help maintain a greener outdoor space even under hosepipe bans. By taking these steps, gardeners can ensure their plants and lawns have a better chance of surviving extreme temperatures.
