Hot and dry challenge

SEASON: WE CAN EXPECT A VERY WARM SUMMER AND LOWER THAN NORMAL RAINFALL

- Alice Spenser-Higgs

With a hot summer behind us and an even hotter one ahead, 2025 may get off to a challenging start for gardeners.

According to the weather experts we can expect a hot summer and lower than normal rainfall. Our only hope is a weak La Niña that might result in good rains towards the end of the season, although no one is predicting when that relief will come.

That is going to call for some resourceful and wise water use in January and February which are traditionally our hottest months.

Maximise the shade

The scorching sun dramatically increases transpiration which puts pressure on all plants, and especially the veggies. One way of giving them relief is to put up temporary shade cloth, even over the roses. This can be as simple as driving four stakes into the ground and pinning, clipping, or tying the shade cloth onto the stakes.

Shading the soil with mulch also reduces evaporation, which allows the soil to be moist for longer. Cover the beds with a thin layer of mulch (dried leaves, pine needles, bark chips), keeping it clear of the plant stems.