As most of Australia swelters through unbearable heat our gardens are suffering too and the best thing you can do is to work with it, not against it.

First up: watering

In extreme heat, it’s not about watering more often, but watering properly. Early morning is gold — before 8am if you can manage it. A deep soak two to three times a week is far better than a daily sprinkle. You want the water to penetrate down to the roots, encouraging plants to dig deep rather than sit shallow and stressed. If you’re hand-watering, count slowly to 20 at the base of each plant and move on. Lawns also prefer fewer, longer waterings — think 30–40 minutes per zone — rather than quick top-ups.

Mulch is your best friend right now

A thick layer (around 7–10cm) acts like sunscreen for the soil, keeping roots cooler and moisture locked in. Organic mulches like pine bark, sugar cane or composted leaf litter are ideal — and yes, even if it’s not the prettiest job in the heat, it makes an immediate difference.

This is also not the time for heavy pruning

Plants under heat stress don’t need extra shock, so step away from the secateurs for now. A few burnt or crispy leaves are completely normal — and honestly, nothing to panic about. Let them be. Once the heat eases, you can gently tidy things up and the plant will bounce back far more happily.

Managing You & Your Time

As for you — choose your garden moments wisely. Early mornings and late afternoons are the safest and most pleasant times to potter. Midday gardening in a heatwave is a hard no. Slip, slop, slap still applies, even when you’re “just popping outside for five minutes”.

The biggest tip of all? Be kind to yourself and your garden. A scorched leaf here and there doesn’t mean failure — it means summer is doing what summer does. Keep plants hydrated, protect the soil, rest when they do, and wait it out. Cooler days will come 🌿