How to Protect Your Garden in a Heatwave

12/08/2025

How to Look After Your Garden in a Heatwave

When the mercury rises, your garden feels the heat just as much as you do. Prolonged high temperatures and strong sun can stress plants, dry out soil, and leave lawns looking parched. But with some forward planning and a few smart techniques, you can help your garden not just survive, but thrive through a heatwave.

1. Water Wisely – Timing and Technique Matter

In extreme heat, water is precious — both for your garden and the environment.

Water early morning or late evening so less moisture is lost to evaporation.

Water deeply but less often. A good soak once every few days encourages roots to grow deeper, making plants more resilient.

Aim for the roots rather than spraying leaves, as wet foliage can scorch in hot sun and is more prone to disease.

Use rainwater where possible. A water butt can be a lifesaver in summer, and even small containers can be used to collect runoff.

 Pro tip: Push a trowel into the soil to check moisture below the surface — if it’s still damp a few centimetres down, you can wait before watering again.

2. Mulch to Lock in Moisture

Mulch is a gardener’s best friend in a heatwave. A 5–7cm layer around plants will:

Keep roots cool by shading the soil.

Slow down evaporation, so plants need watering less often.

Suppress weeds that would otherwise compete for water.

Good options include bark chips, compost, straw, shredded leaves, or even grass clippings (but use these sparingly to avoid mould).

3. Give Plants Some Shade

Not all plants can handle full sun during a heatwave, especially tender flowers, seedlings, or young vegetables.

Use shade cloth, garden fleece, or even an old bedsheet pegged to canes.

Move container plants into a cooler, shadier spot until the heatwave passes.

For vegetable plots, consider temporary polytunnel covers that filter sunlight.

4. Look After Your Lawn

It’s tempting to water your lawn every day, but grass is tougher than it looks.

Let it rest — grass may turn brown in summer but usually bounces back with autumn rains.

Raise your mower blades to leave grass a little longer; longer blades shade the soil and reduce evaporation.

Mow less often to avoid further stress.

If you do water, do it early in the morning and give it a good soak.

5. Keep Containers and Hanging Baskets Hydrated

Pots and baskets dry out quickly in heat, so they need extra care.

Water at least once a day, and twice if temperatures are very high.

Use self-watering pots or add water-retaining gel to compost.

Group pots together — this creates a microclimate and helps keep roots cooler.

Place pots in partial shade where possible.

6. Feed Lightly

Plants grow faster in heat, but watering can wash nutrients out of the soil.

Use a liquid feed once a week for flowering plants and vegetables.

Avoid heavy feeding, which can force soft new growth more vulnerable to heat stress.

7. Prioritise and Protect

If water is limited, you may need to make tough choices:

Prioritise fruiting plants, vegetables, and newly planted trees/shrubs — they are the most vulnerable.

Established perennials and drought-tolerant plants can usually cope without extra water.

8. Plan Ahead for Next Time

Heatwaves are becoming more common in the UK, so it’s worth making your garden more resilient:

Choose drought-tolerant plants such as lavender, sedum, and rosemary.

Improve soil structure by adding compost to help retain moisture.

Install an irrigation system or soaker hoses to save time and water.

Recommended Titan Pro Tools for Heatwave Gardening

The right tools can make caring for your garden in hot weather quicker and easier:

Mulchers & Chippers – Turn garden waste into your own water-retaining mulch - https://www.titan-pro.co.uk/petrol-chippers-shredders/28/category.aspx

Ride-On and Walk-Behind Mowers – Adjust cutting height to protect your lawn during hot spells - https://www.titan-pro.co.uk/lawnmowers/154/category.aspx

Rotary Soil Sieves – Improve soil structure for better water retention - https://www.titan-pro.co.uk/p/6461/rotary-sieve

Explore the full Titan Pro gardening range and get your garden heatwave-ready.

For any help or advise, please contact us on  - 01258 489161 or email away - https://sales@titan-pro.co.uk