While summer is a great time to work in your garden, there are some jobs you should always avoid when the mercury rises. Gardening experts have revealed five garden chores you should never do during a heatwave or risk damaging your garden.
There are few when that is true July lawn care jobs You will need to do this this month as well Garden Jobs to Do in a Heatwave. But this does not mean that every work is suitable for hot weather.
Yours if you want Garden Ideas To thrive all summer long, these are the jobs you’ll need to avoid doing during the latest heatwave. Here’s what you need to know.
1. Feeding
If you want juicy lawn or flower beds, one thing you need to avoid doing during a heatwave is feeding them. It may seem counterintuitive, but encouraging new growth can put additional stress on plants during periods of extreme heat.
(Image credit: Future plc/Colin Poole)
‘While the summer months are the peak time to feed your plants as they are actively growing, when temperatures start to rise above 29 to 32 degrees Celsius, you need to temporarily stop using fertiliser,’ says garden and greenhouse expert Lucy Bradley. Easy garden irrigation.
‘At these temperatures, many plants are suffering from heat stress, and are being forced into ‘survival mode’ so they don’t need access to additional nutrients, which would prompt new growth. Once the heatwave has passed and you see your plants begin to recover, it’s time to start reintroducing feed to replenish their nutrients.
2. Airy
While your lawn may feel hard and compacted right now, you should Never aerate the lawn during a heatwave. That can mean your lawn loses water, turning brown and patchy in the process. Instead, focus on giving it a deep watering once a week; A sprinkle like Kärcher OS 5.320 S Oscillating Sprinkler (£39.99) can help you do this.
(Image credit: Future plc/ David Giles)
The aerating process involves creating thousands of tiny holes throughout the lawn to improve air flow. However, grass is already under significant stress during a heatwave due to lack of moisture, and when the soil is hot and dry, these well-intentioned holes can, in fact, accelerate moisture loss and cause the grass to struggle. One consequence of aeration in a heatwave is that patches of your lawn that would otherwise have recovered naturally may take longer to green up again,’ says James Higgins, grass247.
3. Pruning
While some are Pruning Jobs to Do in JulyDuring a heatwave, it’s worth holding on or risk damaging your plants.
(Image credit: Future plc/ Brent Derby)
‘Throughout July you’ll usually be doing summer pruning on wisteria, as well as weigela and philadelphus, which will finish blooming and lavender to keep it compact and prevent it from becoming woody, as well as many others. Perennial and shrubs. However, these pruning operations should be held back during heatwaves as they will cause problems for your plants,’ says Lucy.
‘When you prune plants, you trigger them to produce new growth, which relies on both water and energy from your plants, which they can’t supply during a heatwave when they’re just trying to survive. By removing foliage, stems and branches, you are also exposing previously shaded areas of your plant to direct sunlight, leaving these areas vulnerable to sunburn, burning and sunscald.’
4. Cut your grass too short
It’s also a good idea to leave your grass a little longer during heatwave periods. This can put unnecessary stress on your grass during hot weather.
(Image credit: Future plc/Lizzy Orme Photography Ltd)
‘One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make during hot weather is cutting the lawn too short. It may seem like a sensible way to reduce how often you need to mow, but removing too many grass blades exposes the lawn to more sun and can put unnecessary stress on it during periods of high temperatures,’ says Alexandra Elguel, Smart Home Living and Gardening expert. ECOVACS.
‘Another common mistake is to leave the lawn for weeks because it’s hot, then give it a dramatic cut when it starts to look uncomfortable. Grass copes better with regular, light trims than with large amounts removed all at once, especially in the summer months.
‘I also see people sticking to the same mowing routine regardless of the weather. Your lawn’s needs change throughout the season, so continuing to mow at the same height during a heatwave isn’t always the best approach. A slight increase in cutting height can make a big difference in how well the grass copes with prolonged hot weather.’
5. Use herbicides
Finally, you should avoid using herbicides during a heatwave because these products are too hot to work effectively.
(Image credit: Future plc/Colin Poole)
‘The ideal temperature for applying weedkillers is between 10 and 18 degrees Celsius, so during a heatwave you should stop using herbicides as they will be less effective and potentially dangerous,’ says Lucy.
‘During a heatwave, your plants – and this includes weed Also – just trying to survive extreme heat and dry conditions, so don’t want to waste energy. This means they often close the pores on their leaves to conserve moisture, so even if you spray them with herbicide, it won’t be absorbed and carried to their roots.
‘In addition, herbicides containing ingredients such as 2, 4-D and dicamba, when temperatures exceed 29 to 32 degrees Celsius, these chemicals can turn into vapors and damage plants you did not intend to spray.’
Help your garden through the heatwave
Karcher
Kärcher Os 5.320 S oscillating sprinkler
This oscillating sprinkler is suitable for watering medium and large areas and gardens up to 320m2. It actually ensures that your lawn is getting enough water.
Miracle-gro
Miracle-Gro Water Storage Gel
Add these to your hanging baskets and containers to help your plants absorb water more efficiently.
Striking lawns
Premium lawn wetting agent by Striking Lawns®
A wetting agent helps break down the surface tension on the lawn which prevents water from reaching the roots of your grass and drying it out. Pros use it for lush lawns at Wimbledon.
That’s five jobs you can cross off your to-do list!
