Drought and hot, dry weather affects our gardens far more than we realise. And the effects can last for years, impacting hard on trees and large shrubs. We cannot control or prevent drought, however, there are ways to minimise the effects.
When watering your garden, you should water less often but water slightly more when you do.Mimi Rupp, founder of Stone etc. based in Port Elizabeth, says hot and dry conditions affect our gardens negatively. She says some plants will simply wilt, while others may lose their leaves, or at worst, die. Drought conditions can turn leaves brown or make them curl up. They can even make plants grow slower or stop growing completely.
Drought can also make plants weaker, which means they can become more susceptible to disease and insect attacks. Even after a drought, it will take a while for the plants to recover. It may even take a few years for the trees to mend.
1. Water carefully
Plants still require watering during a drought. When watering your garden, you should water less often but water slightly more when you do.
If the ground gets moisture on a deeper level, it encourages deeper roots as opposed to a smaller, more superficial root system.
Bark, woodchips and pebbles can be used as a form of mulch protection.2. Give a mulch boost
Using mulch has several benefits, especially when faced with drought conditions. The mulch keeps the soil cooler because it prevents direct sunlight on the soil, and as such prevents evaporation from taking place.
Bark, woodchips and pebbles can be used as a form of mulch protection.
3. Weed your garden
The small amount of water available should not go to weeds so be sure to weed your garden and deadhead your flowers.
4. Do not fertilise
During a drought, it is not recommended to fertilise. The reason being, fertilising encourages your garden to grow, which requires water. And a salt build-up in the soil can be detrimental to plants in times of insufficient water if you do fertilise.
The small amount of water available should not go to weeds so be sure to weed your garden and deadhead your flowers.When it comes to your lawn, it is advisable to leave your grass a little longer. The extra length protects the roots and keeps the soil cooler, preventing unnecessary moisture loss.
Certain areas of grass can also be replaced with pebbles, rocks and other hard landscaping.
Lawns are more decorative than they are functional, and they are big water guzzlers.
If you have children or pets, you may not want to completely do away with the grass but do consider reducing its size.
5. Avoid planting new shrubs
It’s not ideal to plant new shrubs during a drought because they need careful and regular watering to become established. This also cuts down your water supply, limiting the available water for the rest of the garden.
Droughts give you the opportunity to think about when to next invest in your garden, what to buy and what to add to your outdoor space. They also give you the chance to ask how water wise your garden is and how you can improve it.
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