Gardening during heat and drought

What a start to the year. Record-breaking temperatures along with months of severe drought and, to top it off, massive bushfires across Australia. It has been a tough season with below average rainfall affecting South East Queensland.

So how do we garden effectively during dry times and how can we protect our gardens from the ongoing heat and drought?

1. Watering

Water early in the morning or in the evening. This means ideally watering before 10am and after 4pm, which helps prevent leaf burn and evaporation. Avoid watering the leaves and concentrate on watering the root zone around plants and trees. Water less often but water for longer. This encourages roots to grow deeper and helps plants withstand dry conditions.

2. Use Seasol

Seasol is a seaweed solution that works as a plant tonic. It is like having a vitamin boost before a big day. It helps plants cope with heat and supports stressed plants in recovering more effectively.

3. Mulch is your friend

Mulching garden beds and trees helps reduce moisture loss, insulates the root zone, and provides organic matter to improve soil structure. Better soil structure means better water holding capacity. Mulch also suppresses weeds and gives a finished look to your garden. Forest mulch works well on garden beds while sugarcane mulch is ideal for vegetable gardens.

4. Soil wetting agents

Soil wetting agents help water penetrate the soil more effectively. Products like Wettasoil and Yates Soil Wetter help water reach the root zone and stay there for longer. Using wetting agents can reduce water use by up to 50 percent and ensures you make the most of any rainfall.

5. Trees vs lawn

Prioritising water for trees gives a far better long-term return. Trees are difficult and expensive to replace and provide valuable shade and protection from the sun. Lawns, on the other hand, are relatively easy and inexpensive to replace if needed. Saving water for trees helps secure the structure and comfort of your garden for years to come.