HOW TO FUTURE PROOF YOUR GARDEN

The Central Wheatbelt is experiencing a couple of brutal weeks with the temperature well into the 40’s most days, and our gardens are suffering because of it.

At DKT we are very conscious of how to FUTURE PROOF our gardens from the increasingly hot summers and we have plenty of tips of not only how to protect your garden, but ensure that it thrives.

Soil health is something a lot of gardeners take for granted but it is essential first and foremost to ascertain what sort of soil environment you are dealing with. Healthy soil means healthy plants so be sure to incorporate plenty of organic material and introduce nutrients, as well as improve your pH level if necessary. Working and turning your soil is also important to increase its porosity so it can better access to nutrients and water. Our garden section is full of products that can help you achieve a healthy soil so your plants have a better chance of survival in all types of extreme weather – including frost.

In regards to plants look for those varieties that you know are not going to burn in the hot sun or in the hot wind, and choose plants that are able to tolerate lengthy periods of extreme heat and that don’t need so much water. The best place to get inspiration is from you neighbours’ gardens – whatever is thriving in their garden is likely to thrive in yours.

Creating shade in your garden is also vital, and while this might involve a long-term vision remember the best time to plant a tree (or even better, trees) is today. We can help you with choosing the right sort of plants and trees so you will get to have more time enjoying your garden and less time trying to keep things alive.

How you water your garden is paramount to getting it through the summer. Teach your plants to reach for water by watering for longer, but less often, so the water soaks down deep into the soil. This will encourage your plants to develop extensive root systems that are more resilient and more self sufficient in dry conditions. Drip irrigation is great for hedges and larger garden beds and DKT stock a range of different types of wetter hoses. If using sprinklers try to use them at the base of the plant rather than watering from above which can burn the leaves.

Finally mulching your garden will make all the difference to its survival over summer. It will reduce moisture loss from the soil (evaporation) and plants (transpiration) by adding an insulating layer over the soil. It helps to keep the soil cooler and also reduces reflected heat from the soil surface, cooling the air around plants. Mulch also helps control weeds, so it’s a win-win for your garden. Their are lots of options when it comes to mulch so come and chat to us to see what works best for your situation.

While it may be too late for some of your precious plants this summer, make sure you stay positive – it is possible to have a beautiful garden with a little bit of FUTURE PROOFING. And remember the glorious days of our wheatbelt Autumns are just around the corner.

Photographer: Brigid Arnott.