Taken from Lynne’s weekly column ‘Green Scene’ for the Western Mail
16th July 2022
Wiltio
I’m not sure which is wilting the most – me or the gardens I look after. Whilst I appreciate plenty of people love the hot weather, I am no longer a fan (no pun intended). I used to love it. All through my 20s and 30s I would be on site, landscaping in the harshest of heat and would be nut brown and as lean as a whippet. I’m still nut brown but ‘lean’ is now what I do on my spade as I keep sighing (and sweating) heavily. Maybe time has warped my memories but I’m sure it used to be a different kind of heat years ago. There was a run up to it. You had a fighting chance of acclimatising to the sun’s enthusiasm before it got silly hot. Now it seems to be 20 degrees one day and 30 the next.
Watering has to be top of every gardener’s list now. And not just plants but wildlife too. Sadly Hedgehog Helpline are reporting an increase in ‘rescued’ hedgehogs which are suffering from dehydration as puddles and shallow ponds and streams have all dried up. Please leave shallow trays or dishes of fresh water out for them – and make sure the birds have access to water too. They will appreciate a bath as well as drinking water if possible and will reward you with much entertainment as they enjoy their splash about. And you will all be familiar with my pleas for making sure bees have water too. They need shallow water and something to stand on the drink. Small stones or sticks will suffice, as they can’t drink from deep water as the surface tension won’t hold them. That’s why you see so many bees drowned in paddling pools or bucket of water.
You can make a ‘bee ladder’ – simply by dangling pieces of string from the sides of containers onto the water – bees are incredibly clever and will often be able to use these little rope ladders to get out of the water. Alternatively – and quite by accident – I found that the little nets of straw used to deter duckweed work well as the bees use it like a raft (see photo). I suppose anything that floats would help.
For Dog’s Sake
Whilst training to run across Wales barefoot, I learned very quickly just how hot tarmac can get – and ironically I also used freshly laid tarmac to harden the soles of my feet before my run – but ‘don’t try that at home’. It bends me all out of shape to see people walking their dogs on such hot surfaces – if you are in any doubt, test the temperature of the pavement with the back of your hand – too hot for you then it’s too hot for your dog’s paws.
Please walk your dog very early – Yogi and I are out at about 5.30 – 6.00 am and it is a lovely time of day to be out at this time of year – before it gets hot. Even the evenings can still be super-warm and although some people think shady walks are okay, the air temperature can still be really uncomfortable for your dog. As one vet put it, “No dog ever died from missing a few walks but dogs are dying every day from being walked in the heat.”
There are lots of ways to help our four-legged friends cope with the heat. You can buy cooling coats, cooling mats, get a little paddling pool (which Yogi and I share), and put yoghurt on licky mats or in Kongs and freeze before giving to your pet as a cooling treat. Yogi also has her own fan (well, she has lots of them but this one blows cold air!) and loves lying in front of it. You can also soak towels, wring them out, put them in the freezer for a little while and then use them as cooling mats.
Always make sure there is shade for pets to use outdoors and obviously always keep fresh water available. There are a lot of great tips online – so absolutely no excuses for not looking after your pets in the heatwave.
Hot (s)Turf
Also please remember that synthetic turf will get just as hot as tarmac. It is something most people don’t think about – until they’ve experienced it. More and more people are replacing whole lawns with artificial grass and it can get hot enough to burn paws and even little human feet. Sports Turf Managers Association advises that if the surface temperature of natural turf in the sun was 78 degrees Fahrenheit, then the equivalent for artificial turf would be around 117 degrees and tarmac would be 109. Shocking, I think you’ll agree!
Also a word of warning when using a hosepipe – always let the water run through the hose for a while before ‘hosing’ down children or animals. Water lying in a hosepipe left in the sun can actually be hot enough to burn and scald if sprayed straight onto skin. Something else we seldom think about.
Long and Slow
And of course pots, hanging baskets and containers, as well as shallow rooted plants and veggies, will need regular watering during the harsh heat. It is always best to water in the early morning or late evening when the sun isn’t pitching on your plants.
Water run off is often a problem, especially as compost dries out and the ground becomes dusty. Slow and long watering is the only way to be effective. Quick short blasts won’t even penetrate the soil or compost surface.
Temperatures like we have had this week, and which are forecast for the weekend and beginning of next week, really need to be respected, and most people will need to make changes in their day-to-day living.
Please take it seriously. I lived in the Caribbean for a few years and very quickly learned to respect the heat. It can be unforgiving and we really need to be ‘sun-savvy’ in these current unprecedented Welsh temperatures. It is too easy to spend too long in the sun, or not drink enough, or to underestimate the effects of extreme heat in general. Please be sensible and stay safe everyone, and look after those you love.
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