Summer has well and truly arrived in South Africa, and while we are all basking in the warmth, if you are an avid gardener, you will want to make sure that you pay extra special attention to your plants.
Throughout the end of winter and into the spring, most gardeners would have been busy at work, preparing garden beds and growing or planting out vegetable seedlings.
And for those who are not yet experienced in gardening, the summer sun can be damaging to your plants, both old and new, and with the summer temperatures beginning to soar, now is the time to make sure that your garden is ready to face the heat.
All plants need sun in order to flourish, but there is such a thing as too much sun. When the direct sunlight and accompanying heat is too intense, plants can begin to wither and die.
Ideally, you’d be able to water your plants enough so that they don’t take things too hard but, with life often taking us away from our homes during the day, it is impossible to make sure that the garden is always well-watered. And with water shortages being a real threat to South Africa, constantly watering a garden is just impossible.
You could also make sure that your garden has plenty of shade. This is another idealistic vision in that a shady garden in summer, will also be shady in winter, and this is not necessarily a good thing.
Before you give up hope that there is something you can do to get your plants through the summer, there are actually quite a few things that you can do. All of these tips we’re sharing are easy to implement in most gardens and are not going to take up too much of your time, or money.
Our Tips for Protecting your Plants from the Sun
Create (some) shade
The most obvious thing that you can do to block out some of the sunlight is to diffuse it using shade. You can do this by planting tall, bushy plants that are hardy enough to withstand the heat but bushy enough to protect the plants beneath them.
You can also do the opposite of this, which would be to plant your new plants beneath your more established plants and in doing so, use the shade to keep the newer plants alive.
If you are not keen or able to plant more in your garden, you can always opt for shade netting, which can also be called shade cloth, something that is quite affordable and is quite ideal for vegetable patches, where space is planned and limited.
Shade netting is appropriate in that it still allows some light in, so your plants won’t be completely without the sun. If you are going this route, you can actually find shade netting made with UV protection, which is going to be a lot more efficient than your average netting or shade cloth.
Try mulch
Mulch can be used in two ways. Firstly, you can use it to reflect the sunlight away from the soil, and in doing so, protect the plants. To use mulch as a sunlight reflector, you will need to opt for a light coloured mulch, such as dry grass.
The second reason to use mulch is for its water retention properties. By retaining water during the summer months, you won’t have to worry about constantly watering your plants throughout the day. And if you don’t have to over water your plants, the roots will be a lot healthier, and you will be able to prevent root rot from setting in.
One of the greatest things about using mulch is that you don’t necessarily have to spend a thing in order to get it. Mulch can be created by using grass cuttings, bits of wood and bark, and even straw or bits of biodegradable newspaper.
Water in the morning
The earlier you water your garden in the mornings, the better. During the height of summer, when the sun feels extremely hot by around 9 or 10 am, having your plants already drenched in water can really save them.
By the time the sun is up, the rate of evaporation is going to be quite high. So if you leave the watering for midday or afternoon, the water will be taken up by the sun before the soil even has a chance to absorb it.
Watering in the morning prepares your plant for the day ahead as by the time the sun is fully out, the majority of the water will already have been soaked up by the soil and the plant. And keep in mind that if you watered in the morning and by afternoon your plants look a little thirsty, it won’t harm your plants if you give them another splash.
Plant the seeds deep
The later you plant in the year, or rather the closer to the spring or summer, the deeper you should place your seeds and/or the roots of your plants. The direct sunlight on the soil can very quickly dehydrate the seeds or roots, which can either slow down the growth or it could end up killing your seeds or plants before they even have a chance.
If you are planning on planting later in the summer, you should plant at least 3 or so centimetres deeper than you usually would have, and, naturally, make sure that you give the seeds or the new plants plenty of water, especially in the first two weeks.
Don’t disturb the soil
In the summer months, you want to make sure that your plants are secured in the ground. Not only are the more secure plants going to be better off if you live in an area where summer storms are a common occurrence, but if you leave the soil to set, you are also improving the chances of the water sinking into the soil and staying there. Loose soil will allow water to quickly evaporate.
On this note, you should also leave the fertilizer for the cooler months, or for the spring, as the plants have a tougher time absorbing nutrients in the summer and also, to use fertilizer effectively, you will need to churn the soil, something that as we’ve just mentioned, you’ll want to avoid doing.
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