Gardeners urged to add 1 item to their soil this weekend
The country is set to swelter this weekend, and if you want your garden to cope then you need to add one thing to the soil now.
The weather has finally turned a corner from the wet and gloomy spells of the last few weeks. With temperatures set to rise above 30C in some parts of the UK this weekend, it’s a great time to get out in the garden.
However, before the weather hits, there is one task that needs to be done to help your garden cope with the summer sun. David Denyer, flower and garden expert at Eflorist said the combination of rain followed by intense heat can actually leave plants more vulnerable. He said: “A lot of people assume that because we’ve had rain, their garden will cope perfectly well in hot weather, but sudden heat after a wet spell can actually catch plants out quite badly.
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“After a bit of rain, plants often produce lots of fast, soft growth because water uptake suddenly increases.
"While that fresh growth looks healthy, the cell walls are thinner and more delicate than older growth, which means strong sun and sudden heat can scorch or dehydrate it much faster.
“The soil can also dry out more quickly than people expect after wet weather, particularly in pots, hanging baskets, and sunny borders.
"Once temperatures move into the high twenties or above, moisture evaporates a lot faster, and plants that seemed perfectly fine a day or two earlier can suddenly start struggling.”
In order to give your garden the best hope of coping through summer, you need to get out in the garden and add one thing to your soil.
David said: “One of the best things you can do before a hot spell is mulch your borders while the soil is still damp.
"This helps trap moisture in the ground before the heat dries everything out. If you wait until plants already look stressed, you’ve often missed the best opportunity to help them cope."
Containers and hanging baskets will also need a little extra assistance this weekend because they dry faster than plants in the ground.
David said: “Newly planted flowers and young bedding plants can also struggle, as their roots are still fairly shallow and haven’t had time to properly establish themselves yet.
"Hydrangeas, ferns, and other moisture-loving plants are especially prone to drooping or scorching in sudden heat, particularly if they’re sitting in full afternoon sun.
"If possible, move vulnerable pots somewhere slightly more sheltered over the next few days, even if it’s just somewhere that avoids the hottest part of the afternoon."
