It’s a bit hot, isn’t it?
And temperatures are set to sore even higher across the UK as the Met Office predicts a heat wave for the remainder of July – with a forecasted 43°C on the hottest day ever.
Although many of us are eagerly anticipating the good weather and sunshine, any garden-proud homeowners will be worrying about what’s to come.
So, if you want to protect your al-fresco paradise before the degrees start rising, but you’re no expert, keep reading the top tips below.
How to protect your garden in the hot weather
Garden expert Sophie Birkert gave Metro.co.uk some expert tips on keeping your little slice of heaven green and healthy.
Cover your garden furniture
We’ve all endured the unpleasant experience of sitting on a hot garden chair that’s been left in the sun, so avoid this by covering your furniture up in extreme weather.
Some garden furniture is UV-resistant, so check the purchasing information to be sure.
Birkert, founder of garden and homeware company Screen With Envy, recommends getting your al-fresco furniture out of the sun.
She explained: ‘Regardless of what you find, use either a sun protecting cover, or move your furniture inside/into a shaded spot.’
Birkert added: ‘Be sure to separate and shelter your cushions. The sun can bleach coloured fabric, so take preventative measures to ensure you don’t lose the desired shade of your soft garden furnishings.’
Time your watering
It doesn’t take an expert to know that watering your garden is particularly important in a heatwave – however, you may not be aware that timing is key.
Birkert says, ‘It’s best to water your garden and plants early in the morning or late at night, when the sun is lower and cooler, so they have a better chance of absorbing the water.’
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) website agrees that the morning is the best time to water your garden, as the ‘foliage and soil surface is also likely to stay drier for longer than evening watering, discouraging slugs, snails and mildew diseases.’
Throw some shade
It’s not just your furniture that needs some shade – your grass and plants will also want some respite from the sun.
Birkert says you should create shaded spaces in your garden ‘any way you can’ – from moving plants to shady spots, to purchasing a pergola for fixed shrubbery.
If you’re in a pinch, a spare umbrella will do a solid temporary job in high heat.
Leave the grass long
You might be tempted to give your luscious lawn a chop – but leaving the grass to grow can actually help make it healthier.
Birkert explains: ‘Taller grass casts a shadow, so if your grass has a bit of length it can protect its surrounding blades at all different times of the day.
‘Anything over two centimetres should provide some additional protection.’
She adds that you should avoid treatment, such as fertilisers, to your lawn in the high heat of the day.
Birkert says: ‘Much like watering, plants and grass will just be far less receptive to this when the sun is beating down, blocking the nutrients from taking full effect.’
Watch out for water features
Whether you have a pool, hot tub, pond, or even just a bird bath, many gardens showcase some kind of water feature.
Birkert says that, much like your other garden furniture, you should consider covering your water feature to ensure that the water doesn’t evaporate.
Simple tarpaulin should do the job if it didn’t come with its own cover.
When it comes to bird baths, you may need to top it up more regularly than usual during boiling hot days – the bird, squirrels, and other wildlife will really appreciate the water station.