These hot summer days really test the plants in your garden. With limited rainfall in resent weeks the subsoil is really drying out. It’s a great time to identify the plants that just aren’t coping & to consider what you can do to support these species through dry times like these. In some cases they are best replaced with a harder species that will perform better.
The Summer weather in the Subtropics can be grueling but with a little preparation & the right plant selection your garden will look fantastic all year round, without any supplementation of water. Obviously native plants cope best during these hot & sometimes dry times, but there are many non native species (exotics) that perform equally as well.
Originating in countries with a similar climate to the Subtropics of Australia, non native species provide added interest to a garden design. Many non native species provide, not only gorgeous flowers, but also foilage colour including, in some cases, more than two colours (variegations) through the leaf.
Interesting leaf shapes are another attractive feature of non native plants. When these plants are placed well within a garden bed, they can transform any area in your garden and make it look good all year round.
TIP: Watering your plants at night not only is more pleasurable for you but ensures that the plants recover well in time for the next day. Infrequent, deep watering is always recommended, encouraging deep rooting of your plants which makes them cope better in dry times as they can access moisture deep in the soil.
