5 important jobs to do now in your garden before heavy rain arrives
Before a summer drought ends and the rain finally comes, there's a few things experts say need doing
It's always a much-needed relief when the rain finally arrives after a long, intense summer drought. However, to ensure your garden reaps the benefits, here are the five jobs you should tackle first.
Just as there are many ways to prepare your garden for a heatwave, you also need to complete certain jobs to prepare for intense spells of rain. With summers getting hotter, our gardens need more help recovering from heatwaves and using the natural rainfall is a great way to do this.
If you've rainscaped your garden or have been trying ways to harvest more rainwater, then these specific jobs can help your garden collect more and prepare your plants to soak up all that much-needed moisture.
What to do in your garden before it rains: 5 expert tips
Along with your summer gardening jobs, there's plenty to do in your garden as the weather changes. Even if you've built a drought-tolerant garden, when rain is on the way, your space will need help to make the most of it.
Garden experts have revealed the tasks you need to do outside after a long drought, with heavy downpours on the way.
1. Clean gutters
It might seem strange, but cleaning your gutters is just as important during summer as it is in winter. Especially when you're collecting rainwater via a water butt or trough.
"It's becoming apparent that we all should be collecting as much rainwater as possible. And to that end, the key component in that is to make sure that all your gutters are clear of any fallen leaves, moss or debris," explains Monty Don, on BBC's Gardeners' World.
"And then the water, when it does rain, can be collected in troughs, water butts, or tanks," he adds.
Many great garden solutions can collect rainwater for you, and having more than one kind is the best way to ensure a plentiful harvest.
This tool is a great way to keep on top of your gutters and give them a regular clean during summer when leaves start falling.
2. Aerate your lawn
You might've noticed that a heatwave has killed your lawn, and it's looking rather crispy. While the rain will be a welcome relief, it won't help your lawn at all if it's not aerated.
A lesser-known essential lawn care tip to keep your grass green during summer is aerating it before watering and rainfall. This allows water and moisture to be properly absorbed into the soil right down to the roots of the grass.
With the right tool, this doesn't take long, but it will make all the difference to your lawn and bring it back once it's gone that brown, crispy way.
This aerator tool is great to give your lawn every chance of soaking up the rain.
3. Give your plants a quick water
It's no secret that knowing how to water your garden plants properly is extremely key during the summertime, but your plants will actually need water before the rain comes.
“If the ground is extremely dry, it’s also worth giving your plants some water before a storm arrives, as slightly moist soil can sometimes absorb rainfall more efficiently than soil that has baked hard in the sun," says Mark Sage, Lead Horticultural Buyer at B&Q.
"Remove any dead growth, fallen leaves or debris from beds, drains and gutters around the garden too, as these can quickly become blocked and contribute to standing water or flooding during heavy downpours," he adds.
4. Check your pots' drainage holes
You'll also have to give your patio container plants and hanging baskets a quick check to ensure their drainage is sufficient to withstand heavy rains.
“For containers and hanging baskets, check that drainage holes are clear and raise pots slightly using pot feet, if possible. Even after heavy rain, it’s worth checking baskets and containers regularly, as rainfall often doesn’t fully penetrate dense summer foliage and the roots may still be too dry, especially in pots positioned close to buildings," explains Mark.
You can use teabags in your garden during summer to help with moisture retention and drainage; this is a great sustainable garden idea with benefits.
Having a good quality pair of gardening gloves is a necessity when it comes to moving pots and checking your hanging baskets.
5. Check the quality of your soil
No matter what your garden's soil type is, consistent hot weather can have a real impact on it. If it's already naturally dry, then you may have to help it before it rains.
"Prolonged hot weather can leave soil dry, compacted and less able to absorb water quickly, which means intense rainfall is more likely to run off the surface rather than soak in," Mark explains.
"One of the first things to do is check the condition of your soil – lightly aerating compacted areas with a fork or lawn aerator can help improve drainage and allow water to penetrate more effectively," he continues.
When the weather has been particularly dry and hot, you might have to take extra action to help sunburnt plants during the heatwave and afterwards.
