The hot sunny weather is set to continue and, however much we’re enjoying it, our gardens certainly aren’t.
Writing 10 days before publication, I rarely stick my neck out and predict the weather you’re experiencing while reading my column. But, as I said last week, our gardens are unbelievably thirsty and I doubt if they’ll be satisfied at the moment. A few showers or even a downpour won’t do the business, so it’s up to us to save our plants.
What we do depends on individual plants and how much we value them. Their roots collect water which is then transferred to the leaves, replacing what’s been lost through transpiration. This evaporation acts as a cooling system for leaves.
With reduced supplies, a plant cuts off water to some leaves and stems, killing them and preserving the rest. Some species, mainly from the Mediterranean, have developed survival strategies by growing thick succulent or thin, narrow leaves.
Other species, like grasses, may turn brown and look dead, but the root system continues to live and throws up fresh growth as soon as it rains. So lawns and most Mediterranean species need little or no attention.
We should use our very limited water supplies elsewhere, especially, as there may now be a hosepipe ban, and our water butts are dry. I’ve actually been rationing water for weeks. The whole of our garden is irrigated with surplus water from our private spring, so every litre used in the house reduces the flow to our vegetables and ornamentals.
Unlike me, you may not be at the sharp end of rationing, but, like me, you should need supplements. Recycle some household or ‘grey’ water. Use a hand basin for washing up, drain off vegetable water and reuse any bath water.
Apply this to non-food flowers, shrubs and young trees. Concentrate on valuable perennials: a favourite clematis, peony or recently planted apple tree. I’ve had to divert some of my precious liquid to young perennials in new beds planted up over the last couple of years.
Remember annuals, however attractive, will be replaced next year, so may have to perish during this crisis. For me and many folk, annual food crops are a different matter. You may need to prioritise your crops, giving copious quantities to tomatoes, courgettes and celery. Dry lettuce bolts, but you may get an extra flush of leaves with cut and come again or chard by removing emerging flowering stalks. Let peas and tatties take their chance.
Give a helping hand to top fruit. As with other shrubs and trees, remove any stems a plant has jettisoned, cutting right back to the collar. If you haven’t thinned the fruit and summer pruned, do so now - better late than never. You’ll find some apple varieties have already dropped much of the forming fruits, but check a tree over, some are less prone to do so. Better to get some decent fruit than more thin, wizened specimens.
Container-grown perennials need slightly different treatment to normal. A once or twice weekly soak is best. If the compost is losing structure and letting water pour straight through, use a plant saucer or even place a pot inside a bucket to completely rehydrate.
Unusually for Scotland, you should find partial shade for planters as compost exposed to strong sun will almost certainly overheat. I’ve had to move containers away from a white, south-facing wall. Otherwise, group pots together to provide mutual shelter from direct sunlight.
Finally, don’t try to feed water-stressed plants till they’ve completely recovered and are fully rehydrated.
Plant of the week
Anthemis tinctoria ‘Wargrave’ Relishes the dry, sunny weather; it does not need watering. Has deeper yellow disc florets contrasting with its lemon ray florets and deeply divided, scented foliage.
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