How to Preserve Your Garden on the Dacha in Summer Heat: 5 Ideas from Australia

End of spring and beginning of summer this year have been hot. If you're already worried about your garden and afraid of drought, read our post.

Use Mulch

This is a material used to cover the surface around stems. Australian landscape designers apply mulch generously over all beds.

Mulching helps retain moisture in the soil. Even if you water plants less frequently, they won't die. The best options for this task are decomposed leaves and soaked old newspapers mixed with compost.

And Soil Moisturizer

To break down the water-repelling waxy layer that forms in the soil, Australians use special hydrogels.

The colorless powder or crystals are soaked in water and added to the soil. These little water reservoirs evenly distribute moisture. Especially effective during rainfall.

And Organic Additives

Just like mulch, they help retain moisture in the soil and assist plants in surviving droughts.

Water Plants Early in the Morning

This is when the air is still cool, and water does not evaporate actively. It's a perfect time to prepare plants for the hot day.

Choose Drought-Tolerant Plants

For example, succulents aren't afraid of high temperatures. Australians grow familiar to us sedums, euphorbias, aloe, sempervivum and agave.

Also, heat-tolerant herbs like thyme, oregano and sage do well. For flowering plants, lavender and protea are good choices.