With the UK enduring repeated heatwaves and temperatures soaring above 30 degrees, gardens and green spaces have suffered. Lawns have turned dry and yellow, plants struggle to grow, and the hosepipe ban leaves many searching for solutions to revive their outdoor areas.
Home improvement retailer Wickes reports that searches for 'plant protection' and 'garden shade' have soared by 2400%, alongside searches for 'creating shade in the garden' in the last month alone.
Expert advice on keeping gardens green
Clair Albone, Senior Category Manager for Gardens at Wickes, recommends mulch as an alternative to watering grass, or repurposing rainwater. She says: 'Improving soil health is a key tactic. By ensuring grass and lawns retain moisture, gardens stand a better chance of surviving during heatwaves. Applying a generous layer of mulch helps the ground retain moisture by reducing evaporation. This can be done early in the year to take advantage of showers, helping gardens stay moist and look greener for longer. Enriching the soil with Wickes Peat Free Multi-Purpose Compost also improves its structure and water-holding capacity, creating a healthier foundation for plants to withstand the summer heat.'
Albone also recommends building shade solutions. She adds: 'A summer heatwave doesn't mean sacrificing a lush, green garden. Easy shade solutions, like a DIY shade canopy, is an easy and effective way to shield plants from the scorching sun, and it offers instant protection.'
Essential products to protect your garden
With the help of the gardening expert, here are the essentials worth investing in to save your green area, no matter how big or small the space.
- Apollo Weed Control Landscape Fabric – £12. Useful for all garden spaces or gravel to control weeds, it can also protect grass or plants by preventing the sun's harsh rays from damaging greenery. It retains moisture in the soil and allows enough light and air in to encourage growth.
- Smart Garden Plant Stix – £2.50. These rods keep wilting plants upright and can secure landscape fabric in place.
- Charles Bentley Steel Pergola Gazebo – £225. Creates shade in the garden or patio, can be erected on grass to shield it from damage. Easy to assemble, robust with a steel frame, and features a retractable roof.
- Water Butt Kit – 210L – £39. Stores up to 210L of rainwater, simple to install and use, helpful in spring and winter for summer use.
- Strata Amesbury Ash Decorative Waterbutt – 120L – £75. Aesthetically pleasing option that doubles as a flower pot.
- Bark Chippings – £13. Alternative to grass, pebbles, or concrete, offering a sleek finish. They suppress weeds, retain moisture, offer thermal protection, and reduce fungal disease.
These products aim to help gardens withstand the heat and maintain a green, healthy appearance despite the challenging conditions.
