How can you keep the soil moist during the summer heat? 8 tips for amateur gardeners

Summers in recent years have been getting longer, hotter and drier. Even if we water regularly, the moisture in the soil often evaporates within just a few hours. The good news is that water loss can be significantly reduced with a few simple gardening techniques, so our plants can stay healthier even with less watering. Whether it’s a vegetable patch, a raised bed, a flower bed or a balcony planter, how we look after the soil makes a big difference everywhere.

1. Mulching is one of the most effective ways of retaining water

Bare soil heats up quickly, so moisture evaporates from it rapidly. A layer of mulch, on the other hand, shades the soil, slows down the rate at which it heats up and helps to retain moisture.

Florimo’s recommendation:

• Florimo natural wood chips
• Florimo pine bark,
• Florimo pine mulch

Tip: A mulch layer 5–8 cm thick can already significantly reduce evaporation.

2. Think about water retention right from the moment of planting

Soil water management can be improved not just at the surface. A good-quality potting compost provides a looser structure, which is capable of both storing water and providing adequate aeration for the roots.

Florimo’s recommendation:

• Florimo general-purpose potting compost

This is particularly important in the case of balcony planters, tubs and raised beds.

3. Perlite – the soil’s „water management aid”

Many people think that perlite simply loosens the soil, but it can do much more than that. Its structure helps to balance the soil’s moisture content: it drains off excess water, whilst ensuring that the root zone remains in ideal condition for longer.

Florimo’s recommendation:

• Florimo horticultural perlite

Particularly recommended:

• for window boxes
• for pot plants
• for growing seedlings
• to improve compacted soil.

4. Clay pellets aren’t just for houseplants

Many people use it solely for decorative purposes or for drainage, yet clay granules are also excellent at regulating moisture.

Can be used:

• as a drainage layer at the bottom of balcony planters,
• for pot plants,
• or as a decorative vapour-reducing layer on the surface.

Florimo’s recommendation:

• Florimo clay granulestum natural and decorative

5. Don’t leave the raised bed uncovered!

The soil in raised beds warms up more quickly, so it loses moisture even faster.

Worth combining with:

• high-quality potting compost,
• the perlite,
• as well as mulch or natural wood chips.

Taken together, this can significantly reduce the need for irrigation.

6. Water retention is even more important on balconies

Due to the small volume of soil in the pots, the soil in balcony planters can dry out completely even on a single hot day.

The right solution:

• high-quality potting compost,
• a little perlite for a looser texture,
• clay granules at the bottom of the pot,
• a thin layer of mulch or decorative wood chips on the surface.

7. Water in the morning, cover in the evening!

Watering alone is not enough if the soil remains uncovered all day. A layer of mulch keeps the water we applied in the morning in the soil for much longer.

This is particularly important:

• as for tomatoes,
• with paprika,
• when it comes to cucumbers,
• for ornamental shrubs,
• by the roses.

8. Soil health will also have an impact on next summer

The right soil structure isn’t just helpful during this year’s heatwave. Soil that is regularly improved and mulched will develop better water-retention capacity year on year, meaning it will require less watering and remain more resilient during periods of drought.

We cannot prevent the summer heat, but there is a great deal we can do to ensure the soil retains its life-giving moisture for longer. Proper mulching, well-structured potting compost and additives that improve water management can together make a striking difference in vegetable patches, flower beds and on balconies alike.

If you’d like to find the solutions best suited to your garden, browse through Florimo’s range of soil improvers and mulches, then visit your nearest Florimo Partner, where you can also get expert advice to help you choose.