Summer Garden Survival Guide: Keeping Your Garden Alive in the Australian Heat

Australian summers can be brutal on gardens. With temperatures soaring above 40°C, water restrictions, and scorching sun, keeping plants alive requires smart strategies. Here’s your complete guide to summer garden survival.

Understanding Australian Summer Challenges

Our summers present unique challenges:

• Extended heatwaves with 40°C+ temperatures
• Water restrictions in most capital cities
• Intense UV radiation (highest in the world!)
• Hot, dry winds that desiccate plants
• Bushfire risk in many areas

Water-Wise Strategies

Smart Watering Schedule

Best Times to Water:

• Before 9am (ideal)
• After 6pm (second choice)
• NEVER during the heat of the day

Watering Frequency Guide:

Plant Type	Sandy Soil	Clay Soil	Potted Plants
Vegetables	Every 2 days	Twice weekly	Daily
Natives	Weekly	Fortnightly	Twice weekly
Lawn	Twice weekly	Weekly	N/A
Fruit trees	Weekly deep	Fortnightly deep	N/A

Water-Saving Techniques

1. Drip Irrigation - 90% water efficiency
2. Soaker Hoses - Great for vegetable beds
3. Greywater Systems - Check local regulations
4. Rain Tanks - Harvest every drop
5. Wicking Beds - Self-watering solution

Mulching: Your Summer Secret Weapon

Mulch is essential for Australian summer gardens:

Best Mulches for Summer

Mulch Type	Best For	Thickness	Pros
Sugar cane	Vegetables	5-7cm	Breaks down quickly, adds nutrients
Pea straw	All gardens	7-10cm	Economical, widely available
Wood chips	Trees, shrubs	10cm	Long-lasting, termite resistant
Lucerne	Vegetables, roses	5-7cm	Adds nitrogen as it breaks down
Gravel	Succulents, natives	3-5cm	Permanent, reflects heat

Mulching Rules

• Keep mulch away from plant stems (prevents collar rot)
• Water before mulching
• Top up as it breaks down
• Use newspaper underneath for extra weed suppression

Shade Solutions

Temporary Shade Options

Shade Cloth:

• 30% - Vegetables, partial shade plants
• 50% - Most plants during heatwaves
• 70% - Shade-loving plants, ferneries

Installation Tips:

• Create a frame using star pickets and poly pipe
• Ensure good airflow underneath
• Remove when temperatures drop below 35°C

Living Shade

Plant fast-growing shade providers:

• Deciduous trees - Provide summer shade, winter sun
• Climbing beans - Quick shade for veggie gardens
• Passionfruit vines - Productive shade on fences

Protecting Specific Plants

Vegetables

Heat-Tolerant Summer Crops:

• Eggplant
• Okra
• Snake beans
• Sweet potato
• Armenian cucumber
• Cherry tomatoes (not large varieties)

Cool-Season Crops in Summer:

• Grow lettuce under 70% shade cloth
• Plant Asian greens in complete shade
• Use white pots to reflect heat
• Harvest early morning when crisp

Fruit Trees

• Paint trunks with white water-based paint (prevents sunburn)
• Deep water weekly (50-100L for mature trees)
• Net to protect from birds and flying foxes
• Thin fruit to reduce stress

Lawns

Keeping Grass Alive:

• Raise mowing height (longer grass = deeper roots)
• Leave clippings on lawn
• Water deeply twice weekly (if permitted)
• Consider letting it go dormant (it will recover)

Drought-Tolerant Alternatives:

• Buffalo grass (Sir Walter, Palmetto)
• Couch varieties
• Native grasses (Microlaena)
• Zoysia

Container Gardens in Summer

Pots need special attention:

1. Group pots together - Creates humidity
2. Use light-colored pots - Reflect heat
3. Double-pot - Insulation for roots
4. Water-storing crystals - Mix into potting mix
5. Saucers - Catch precious water
6. Move to shade - During extreme heat

Dealing with Common Summer Problems

Heat Stress Signs

• Wilting despite moist soil
• Leaf edges turning brown
• Flower/fruit drop
• Stunted growth

Emergency Treatment:

1. Move to shade immediately
2. Spray with seaweed solution
3. Water deeply in evening
4. Trim damaged foliage

Pest Management

Summer pests thrive in heat:

Pest	Damage	Organic Control
Spider mites	Stippled leaves	Spray with water, neem oil
Whitefly	Sticky residue	Yellow sticky traps
Fruit fly	Ruins fruit	Exclusion bags, early harvest
Grasshoppers	Chewed leaves	Netting, manual removal

Preparing for Extreme Heat Events

Heatwave Checklist

Three Days Before:

• Deep water everything
• Apply seaweed solution
• Erect shade cloth
• Mulch any bare soil
• Move pots to shade

Day Before:

• Water again at sunset
• Harvest ripe produce
• Fill buckets for emergency water

Day Of:

• Water pots in morning
• Mist sensitive plants
• Check shade cloth secure
• Stay indoors 11am-4pm!

Smart Plant Choices

Replace Struggling Plants With:

Instead of: English box → Try: Native box (Westringia) Instead of: Roses → Try: Native hibiscus Instead of: Azaleas → Try: Correa Instead of: Ferns → Try: Lomandra Instead of: Hydrangeas → Try: Native hydrangea (Abrophyllum)

Monthly Summer Tasks

December

• Mulch everything
• Install irrigation
• Prune spring flowers
• Plant heat-lovers

January

• Daily pot watering
• Harvest regularly
• Watch for pests
• Deep water weekly

February

• Prepare autumn garden
• Order seed catalogues
• Prune fruit trees after harvest
• Start autumn seedlings indoors

Water Restriction Survival

Making Every Drop Count

Level 2 Restrictions (Typical):

• Hand watering only
• Specific times (before 10am, after 4pm)
• No sprinklers
• Cars and hard surfaces banned

Strategies:

• Prioritize productive plants
• Let lawns go dormant
• Use bath/shower water on ornamentals
• Install drip irrigation (usually permitted)

Recovery After Summer

Don’t despair if plants suffer:

1. Wait until autumn to assess real damage
2. Don’t fertilize heat-stressed plants
3. Prune dead material gradually
4. Water deeply as temperatures cool
5. Apply seaweed solution fortnightly

Many plants that look dead will reshoot from roots!

Conclusion

Surviving an Australian summer in the garden requires preparation, the right techniques, and sometimes accepting that dormancy is natural. Focus on water conservation, provide shade, mulch heavily, and choose appropriate plants. Remember, even experienced gardeners lose plants in extreme weather - it’s part of gardening in Australia!

The reward? A garden that’s truly resilient and adapted to our climate. Plus, the satisfaction of harvesting homegrown tomatoes when they’re $12/kg at the shops!