Outdoor Design
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Reviving your drought stressed garden

If your garden is looking a little tired, now’s the time to get out there and help your struggling plants survive.

3 May, 2017

Drought conditions can cause lasting stress on your plants and trees leading to dieback, damaged roots and stunted growth. Scorching, wilting and loss of leaves are just some of the early symptoms your plants are suffering.

Drought stressed gardening tips

With the recent news that the Californian drought is finally over, we can turn our attention to reviving our gardens and helping our plants return to good health. Here are some quick tips to get you started:

Avoid over watering

Soaking your plants with water after long periods of drought could shock them to death. Thankfully, water restrictions are still active as it’s tempting to give your plants a good drink when they’re looking average. It’s best to water just enough to moisten the soil so the roots can still obtain oxygen.

Apply a fertiliser with caution

Applying a slow-release fertiliser will help encourage the growth of the plant. Just remember, the more growth, the more water your plant requires, so avoid fertilising during the drought. Make sure you have enough water before you apply the fertiliser.

Hold off on pruning

Before you get your secateurs out to prune back damaged growth, wait until the warm to hot temperatures dissipate. Even without cutting back your plants, new growth will occur and the damaged foliage will offer some protection. Once the temperature drops, cut back any dead branches and scorched foliage to allow for the new growth to come through.

Deadhead your flowers

Cutting off your flowers, especially before they’ve had a chance to seed will help conserve your plant’s energy and reduce their need for water.

Mulch your garden beds

To protect the roots of the plants from the sun’s heat, apply a fresh layer of mulch. This will also help keep the soil moist for longer by reducing evaporation and runoff.

The drought is over for now, but unfortunately, droughts come and go. Planning your garden to accommodate future drought is the best thing you can do to keep your garden looking great and surviving through the tough climate.