Blooming wishes for all for the New Year!

A blooming summer garden could be a dream start to a new year, but since most of us are busy enjoying the gorgeous summer weather and the holidays, gardening plans usually wilt in the heat.

When it gets a bit too hot and humid, only dedicated gardeners are seen tending to their blooms, though that’s the time when our plants need some extra care and love. The best way to keep up with caring for your garden is to plan a summer maintenance routine.

As with humans, plants get thirstier and begin to wilt if not provided enough water in such weather. Regular and planned watering can help your plants combat the effects of heat and humidity. To be sure your  plants get all the necessary moisture you are showering them with, try to avoid watering them during the hottest part of the day. Instead choose to do this when it’s cooler, like early morning or late afternoon.

Watering at night is not advisable as it can cause the water to sit longer, creating a damp environment for your plants, which can increase the chances of fungal growth. As part of the schedule, it’s good to take a walk around

 the garden on a regular basis and note any bug to look for any fungal problems that may be starting to occur. Such fungal problems need to be addressed immediately to avoid having a major infestation to deal with later.

At the same time, we all know there is a greater need to conserve water than ever before – and this is even more important if you are on tank water. With changing weather patterns, global warming reports and a perennial lack of quality water resources in many parts of the world, it is important to be water wise while still enjoying your  garden.

There are a few things you can do to achieve that- you could try growing drought tolerant plants that don’t require much water, like ornamental grasses and shrubs; using compost rather than chemical fertilisers improves the soil’s ability to hold water as compost adds nutrients to the soil very gradually; installing timers with sprinklers or using a drip irrigation system instead.

Using a good mulch and plenty of it can be immensely helpful to prevent loos of water through evaporation. Good quality mulch, like well-rotted compost, can prevent up to 70 % evaporation loss and it’s one of the cheapest and easiest ways to make the most of water in the garden.

Make sure to place the mulch away from tree trunks or plant stems to prevent the risk of collar rot.

If you have worked hard on your garden, make sure to spend time with it looking at it and admiring it, and making the most of the summer weather enjoying the fruits of your labour.  In my opinion that’s the best part of gardening – I’m sure the garden lovers among you will agree.

I look forward to sharing more gardening tips with you through the year, and I’m sure we will all have a blooming 2009!