The word drought often inspires negative thoughts of dying plants and dry garden beds. You might be worried about the effects of global warming. Maybe your town currently has water restrictions enforced upon it, or it’s nearing summer and you need to be prepared for a period of minimal rainfall. If you want to keep your garden looking and growing healthily you need to drought-proof it.
The Garden Maintenance team at Jungle Gardens share their top five tips to drought-proof your garden and keep it looking it’s best regardless of the weather.
1. Plan ahead when choosing plants
The first tip you’ll need to take on board is something that takes preparation and forward thinking. To ensure your garden is ready for a drought you will need to make sure the plants you choose can withstand prolonged heat and minimal water.
Don’t make rash decisions just because a plant looks good. Think before you buy. Look at plants that are known for surviving warmer climates. Native Australian and Mediterranean plants, as well as the obvious choice of succulents, are always good options. Just make sure you research your plants and go for those that have minimal water usage.
2. Composting and using organic material in your soil
Having good soil is one of the most important qualities of a thriving garden. It becomes even more necessary during times of drought. Good quality soil helps to feed your plants necessary nutrients and allows them to store moisture, both of which can be scarce during a drought.
One way to make sure your plants are receiving the best possible soil is through using organic materials. If you compost your food scraps you can be sure to have a greater amount of control over what goes into your garden.
Like with any growing creature, if you feed it plenty of healthy food it’ll grow to be big and strong. Using natural nutrients in your garden at all times of the year, especially during a drought, can help your garden survive and thrive.
3. Mulching
A great way to drought-proof your garden is to apply mulch over the top of the soil. The purpose of mulch is not just to make your garden look nice and tidy. Mulch acts as a protective layer over the soil. It stops the sun from getting to the roots of your plants, doing for the plants what sunscreen or protective clothing does for humans.
If the sun can’t get through to the soil it is less likely to evaporate any water stored in there, ensuring your plants have access to moisture for longer than they would without the mulch.
Any time you have the opportunity to prevent the wastage of water or preserve it for later use, especially during a drought, the better.
4. Installing a watering system
Even though a drought means less water is available it does not mean that your plants should get none at all. You just need to be smarter about how you use it. To make things easier on yourself you can install an irrigation watering system which is designed to water plants from the roots where they need it most.
There is less wasted or evaporated water as it goes straight to where it needs to go. This can also be accomplished when watering without the use of an irrigation system. Keep your hose close to the ground to prevent wastage.
You can water your plants at cooler times of the day, earlier in the morning and later in the evening, to minimise the amount of evaporation that would occur in the more intense heat. Don’t neglect your plants, just make sure you use your water wisely.
5. Seek assistance from the professionals
If you are unsure about how best to prepare your garden for a drought or if you want to make sure you are heading in the right direction, call Jungle Gardens on 1300 832 658 or Contact Us here.
The team consists of professionals with training and experience to ensure your garden gets the care that it needs all year round and in all climates.