Water the garden in summer

Summer is already here and the rain keeps falling more and more often. The air shimmers in the afternoon hours. The ground becomes dusty. The earth cracks from drought and the plants let their flower heads and leaves hang down, exhausted. You are thirsty. And so that the garden looks gorgeous and lively again, you absolutely have to quench your thirst and reach for a hose or watering can more often. And when you buy these garden accessories in bright, summery colors, you quickly bring a little more freshness to your own garden.

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As with humans and animals, there are also specimens in the plant world that are particularly sensitive to heat and drought. Even those types of plants that like it really hot and sunny cannot last long without water. Southern plants and herbs such as oleander or basil in particular have an almost insatiable thirst. Plants that are in shady places in the garden do not dry out as quickly as potted plants. A good tip: a layer of pebbles on the ground protects something from drying out. There are special, helpful water storage systems for buckets and boxes on the market that collect and store excess irrigation water at the bottom of the vessel. The roots are not permanently in the water, because the required amount of water is slowly released. There are also special irrigation controls that attach to the tap that regulate the flow of water to the plants. Drip systems are also well suited for the holiday season and replace dear neighbors when watering plants.

You can usually see how much water the plants need. In large, thick leaves, the water also evaporates due to their large surface. That is why such plant species need a lot of water in summer. Small, firm or fleshy leaves can store moisture better. The soil also plays a role here, because it has a decisive role in how much water is necessary for the planted species. Heavy soil can store water much better than sandy soil. The pot garden usually has to be watered more frequently. It is also good to know that natural materials such as clay and terracotta allow water to evaporate more easily than plastic containers.

It is important to water the plants either early in the morning or in the late afternoon, because in the blazing midday sun the water droplets act like small burning glasses, which is harmful to the plants. The following applies to green lawns: it is better to irrigate a little less often and more persistently, because that strengthens the roots of the lawn. So the garden survives the dry summer time until the rain comes again.