Summer is typically a colourful season, with flowers in full bloom making the sunny weather that extra bit special. Whilst flowers and plants add character to the garden during this season, gardeners have been urged to take extra care to keep their vibrant garden intact.
July is peak season for flowers, but gardeners need to make sure their plants get enough hydration to ensure they stay fresher for longer. There are, however, better times in the day where it is more effective to water plants rather than later in the day when temperatures are high.
Experts at HWwhites advise watering plants “wisely” and doing so early in the morning or in the late evening when it’s cooler.
The advice read: “Try to water early in the morning or later in the evening when it’s cooler – this stops too much water evaporating before it can reach the roots. Your grass may start to look dry in warm weather, but don’t panic. Most grass bounces back with a bit of rain. Letting your grass grow a little longer can help it hold onto moisture and cope better in dry conditions.”
It’s also worth snipping down faded blooms, this will encourage more growth and also keep a neat garden that looks well looked after.
Feeding the blooms once a week with a fertiliser can make a real difference in how long flowers last and how healthy your plants stay.
Whilst the summer is in full swing and the UK has seen consistent sunny days, it’s a good idea to start thinking ahead to the autumn months if you want to continue to have the vibrancy in your garden.
The RHS also urges gardeners to be careful when watering their flowers and plants. Its advice reads: “Watering in the heat of the day is not a good idea as much water is lost through evaporation from the surface of the soil, and the plants will use water more efficiently if watered in the cooler parts of the day.”
Rather, it also said, gardeners should water in the mornings, with evening watering also being a good option as “the cooler conditions mean less water is lost to evaporation”.