Summer in Sydney brings longer days, warmer temperatures, and if you’re not prepared, stress on your garden. As the sun beats down, your plants and lawn need extra care to stay healthy, hydrated, and vibrant.

Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to prepare your garden for summer, from soil care to watering techniques, ensuring that your garden thrives all season long.

 

1. Give Your Soil a Boost

Healthy soil is the foundation for a thriving garden, especially during the hot summer months.

• Add Organic Matter: Mix in compost, well-rotted manure, or mulch to improve soil structure, increase moisture retention, and reduce soil compaction.
• Soil Testing: Check your soil’s pH nutrient levels. Adjust accordingly with fertilisers or pH balancers to ensure optimum growing conditions for your plants.
• Aerate the Soil: Use a garden fork or aerator to loosen compacted soil, allowing roots to breathe and absorb water more efficiently.
• Tip: Avoid heavy digging during hot weather to reduce stress on the soil and plants.

 

2. Water Wisely

Sydney’s hot summer days can quickly lead to dry, stressed gardens. But over-watering can be just as harmful as under-watering, so it’s essential to use efficient watering techniques.

• Water in the Early Morning or Late Afternoon: Avoid water during the hottest part of the day to prevent evaporation. Early mornings or late afternoons allow water to reach the roots.
• Use Drip Irrigation or Soaker Hoses: These systems target the roots and reduce water wastage. They’re perfect for garden beds, lawns, and vegetable patches.
• Mulch Around Plants: A layer of organic mulch helps retain moisture and keeps the soil cool. It also reduces the need for frequent watering.
• Tip: Water deeply but less frequently to encourage deep root growth and drought resistance.

 

3. Trim and Prune Your Plants

Summer heat can cause overgrowth or even damage to certain plants, so a quick trim is necessary to keep them looking their best.

• Prune Dead or Diseased Growth: Cut back dead flowers or branches to encourage healthy new growth and prevent disease.
• Shape and Thin Out Dense Plants: Remove excess growth to improve air circulation and allow light to penetrate deeper into the plant.
• Deadhead Flowering Plants: Remove spent flowers to encourage more blooms and maintain a tidy appearance.
• Tip: Pruning and deadheading in early summer prevent plants from becoming leggy and keep them in shape for the rest of the season.

 

4. Fertilise Your Garden

As plants grow more vigorously during the summer, they need additional nutrients to support their growth and blooming.

• Choose Slow-Release Fertilisers: Use slow-release, balanced fertiliser to feed your plants throughout the summer without the risk of burning them with too much nitrogen.
• Feed Your Lawn: If you have a lawn, use a summer-specific fertiliser designed to keep your grass green and healthy without promoting too much growth during the heat.
• Tip: Be sure to fertilise your garden in early summer, before the hottest days hit, to give your plants the nutrients they need for the season.

 

5. Prepare Your Lawn for Summer Heat

Lawns need extra attention to stay green and lush during the warmer months, especially in regions like Sydney that experience extended periods of dry heat.

• Raise the Mower Blade: Cut your grass a bit higher in the summer (around 2.5-3 inches). Taller grass retains moisture better and provides shade to the soil.
• Aerate the Lawn: Aerating your lawn before the heat sets in allows water, oxygen, and nutrients to reach the roots more easily.
• Water Deeply and Infrequently: Water your lawn once or twice a week (depending on rainfall) for deep root penetration rather than frequent shallow watering.
• Tip: Lawns with drought-resistant grass varieties, like Buffalo or Zoysia, are more suited to the Sydney climate and require less water.

 

6. Plant Summer-Friendly Crops

Summer is the perfect time to grow delicious crops like tomatoes, peppers, and herbs. If you’re looking to grow your own food, follow these steps:

• Choose Heat-Tolerant Vegetables: Select crops that thrive in the heat, such as tomatoes, peppers, basil, and zucchinis.
• Grow in Containers: If space is limited, plant in pots or raised beds for better drainage and temperature control.
• Rotate Crops: Avoid planting the same vegetables in the same spot year after year to prevent soil depletion and pest build-up.
• Tip: Use companion plants to improve pest control and promote plant health (e.g. basil with tomatoes).