In the garden: How to care for plants during a hosepipe ban

The mellow month of August is upon us, and with it brings harvests galore! After a summer of growing, the garden is full of produce, a time of plenty.

Runner beans, which are also called green beans, need regular harvesting to ensure the pods are tender and not too stringy, unless they are being grown to use only the beans on the inside as they get bigger.

The beans on their own have a meaty texture and can be stored in airtight containers or frozen and used over winter in soups and stews. They can be used both ways, and it is important that they are cooked before eating as there is a toxin present in both the seed and the pod which needs cooking to render it inactive.

‘Scarlet Emperor’ is one of the most popularly grown varieties and ‘White Lady’ bears tasty white beans.

They are commonly grown in gardens to create a screen between areas of the garden, and the flowers are attractive and continuous over the summer months if the crop is harvested regularly.

Continuing to sow seed of lettuce, beetroot and carrots will ensure a supply into the autumn months, as some plants can run to seed quite quickly, particularly if there is higher temperatures and a lack of water which can cause bolting.

Regular watering of vegetables is important to obtain the best quality crops, and this is particularly true of vegetables grown under cover that are at our mercy for water provision.

Trying to keep temperatures at a manageable level in protected environments can be a challenge during warm spells and some of the measures employed include damping down floors with water, providing shading, and watering plastic or glass overhead to cool down the space.

The recent hosepipe ban in Cork is a challenge but not an unsurmountable one!

During these restrictions on water use, we need to really prioritise what needs water the most. Lawn areas do not need to be watered, they will burn up but they will recover once the rain arrives. Established trees and shrubs should also be fine as their roots systems are capable of independently sourcing water and they should get through a period of dry weather no problem.

Herbaceous perennials should do OK, provided that they are not too tall and that they have been mulched well in the springtime.

Newly-planted trees and shrubs should be prioritised, as well as fruit and vegetables, and then plants that are in pots.

Timing when watering is undertaken is also an important consideration, with early in the morning and late in the evening the best times to avoid surface evaporation.

Simple actions of reusing water used for washing dishes in the garden can help revive the drooping spirits of plants that enjoy moisture at their roots, like hydrangeas, hostas, and clematis.

If water restrictions are causing stress in your garden, now is the time to take action and consider ways of collecting rainwater and reusing brown water.

Water storage is going to become an increasingly important resource as changing weather patterns become more evident. In addition to this, we can undertake actions which help the soil to conserve and increase water-holding capacity which will ultimately benefit us all.

Ensuring the surface of the soil is covered by either vegetation or a mulch of some description will avoid unnecessary water loss through evaporation.

Conservation, reuse, and planning ahead will help us all garden with confidence and less stress in the coming years.

There is plenty of seed starting to ripen now as well, so keep an eye out in the hedgerows for wildflowers like knapweed, foxgloves, oxeye daisies and cow parsley if you are looking to introduce some native wild flowers into your garden.

Having native plants growing in the garden mixed through cultivated varieties will make for a great food source for insects and birds, and they look great too.

Enjoy reaping the rewards of the hard work all year and do not forget to sit back in that sun lounger and take in all the influence you have had over your own patch of garden.

That could be in the form of a neat and tidy border after a hard day of weeding and tidying, or maybe a long meadow that is setting seed and looking lovely and untidy!

There appear to be more butterflies and moths around this year, a promising indication that our planting palate is moving in the right direction.

There is certainly much more awareness around planting for pollinators and it makes the garden a much more lively and interesting space when there is insect and bird life to observe.

Plant of the Week

Clematis are a familiar genus of plants, grown largely for their attractive climbing flowering qualities, adorning pergolas, trellises and walls.

They love to have their roots kept moist and cool and will reward with profuse flowering when given the ideal growing conditions.

Clematis ‘Jackmanii’ is a deep purple late summer flowering clematis that will grow and flower well in a semi-shaded location with some supports to climb up. These are plants that will benefit from a top up of water during periods of dry weather.

If planted deeply and mulched well, they will also manage fine once they are established.

Flowering into the autumn, pruning hard in late winter/early spring will ensure vigorous new growth for the following year.

These clematis flower on the current years growth and so it will not affect flowering adversely, but do check what type of clematis you are growing before pruning as they all require different treatment.