My garden in the heatwave

Even our vegetable plants are withering and actually dying

I have felicia, simple white geraniums (pelargoniums), scented leaved geraniums with lighter green leaves mid pink flowers, and a very pretty bright blue creeping Veronica which I’ve previously only used in beds. I’ve also put in a compact phlox to see how it gets on, but it needs more water I think. I usually have more traditional bedding plants but last year only my verbena did well.
My troughs are on the ground, so nothing needs to trail much, otherwise I’d probably have gone for white ivy leaved geraniums.
I’m looking forward to see which plants others have found to do well in the heat.
I’ve also got coriander, rocket and basil in little self watering troughs and they’ve done brilliantly.

wonderful!

My plants being munched

I have grown sweet Williams this year for the first time and they’re looking great, the heat seems to suit them. I’m growing them in with cucumbers and they’re giving them shade.

Geraniums, begonias, lavender, bougainvillea and oleander (but be careful with that as it's poisonous). All are surviving for me in a very open, exposed location on a farm. TBH I find the wind worse than the heat because it dries out the soil in the tubs just as much as the sun does. When I had a holiday home in the Eastern Mediterranean, I used to water at different times of the day but unlike at midnight when the sprinklers came on and watered everything above ground, I directed my hose towards the soil around the plants (even in the sunshine) and then added a handful of compost to prevent the roots becoming exposed or scorched. I've been doing this here for the past couple of years.

Everything except the passion flower is showing heat stress. I am watering daily. Think I have lost my corkscrew willow altogether.

our forecast is not good for lower temperatures AuntieE..

I am in Swindon, north of the South West is how I describe my position

I had a whole hanging basket of fuchsias just died on me, despite watering..

Love this thread and thanks for the photos.

Not to worry, the heatwave is over here in Denmark, so I assume it won't last much longer for you, either.

We plummeted from lovely hot 32 degrees to 12 or 14 with icy strong winds and rain!

And I was so enjoying the heat, and now I am frozen stiff.

The geraniums, zinnias, and multi colored marigolds are thriving, petunias are pitiful, impatiens seem to be requiring more water than usual. Our Hibiscus are lovely but need daily watering.

I've lost several pots of plants this year. Notably, petunias, and also fuchsias. Just keeled over and died, in spite of all my watering efforts, like never before.
But the begonias and geraniums have coped just fine so i will stick to those next summer. And I'll do some research to see what else will survive the heat.

Nell82

I noticed this afternoon my son's hydrangea in a pot looked very stressed despite being watered. The side of its tub was too hot to touch so the roots inside were literally being poached.

As many of my plants are in containers I've been looking online for ways to insulate them against the heat. There are some suggestions, like using thin cork. However I mainly try to put a pot inside a larger one so there is a gap. Also, wooden half barrels are better than plastic or terracotta. More expensive, of course.

I also put the planted pot inside a larger decorative one, for three reasons. Firstly it does insulate from heat and cold, next it’s easier to move them round ( I have a big courtyard and like to change the plants through the seasons) and thirdly it takes less compost to plant up a smaller pot.
The heat has just shrivelled my blueberries, they were doing so well!

We began focussing on Mediterranean plants a few years ago. There was a great article on bbc website about a couple who have created a jungle in the garden of their 3 bed semi and it’s absolutely thriving.

ClicketyClick

My clematis are struggling in the heat but the marigolds are thriving.

My clematis are struggling in the heat but the marigolds are thriving.

This year my potted hyrdrangeas are full,of flower, but I have put them up the side of the house in the shade for the next heat spell so cant see and enjoy them

I think we may all need to rethink gardens. I’ve abandoned the annuals I used to have and now have lavender in pots, geraniums and begonias. I dislike the latter but they survive neglect, especially if on holiday.
This year, a hydrangea only has two blooms and I don’t know why, and tomatoes are hopeless in the greenhouse. It’s a wonder we can grow anything in this climate now.

petunias not doing so well, hydrangea blooming ,but the leaves are turning brown...

Thank you That looks perfect. I shall aim for similar close to my patio windows

I am not well versed in adding photos I hope this has worked.

Helterskelter1 mine is a star jasmine ,trachelospermum, I am sure that is not the correct spelling but near enough! It is on the corner of the house and I only prune it when it starts invading the living room. I will try and take a photo later

I noticed this afternoon my son's hydrangea in a pot looked very stressed despite being watered. The side of its tub was too hot to touch so the roots inside were literally being poached.

As many of my plants are in containers I've been looking online for ways to insulate them against the heat. There are some suggestions, like using thin cork. However I mainly try to put a pot inside a larger one so there is a gap. Also, wooden half barrels are better than plastic or terracotta. More expensive, of course.

HelterSkelter1

Gin I must plant one to scramble over my fence near the house. Can you tell me the name of your one please. Easy to grow? Do you cut them back?

This is one of mine. I planted clematis underneath to grow through it. You might be able to see that I’ve taken it to grow through a ragged Rosemary.
You do have to prune soon after the blooms have died.

HelterSkelter1

Luckygirl is your jasmine the one which scrambles over fences and smells wonderful especially at night?

The very one!

TillyTrotter

I’m not keen on marigolds in pots but geraniums and begonias thrive well in heat. I still water the pots once a day late evening.

I agree, my pelargoniums look great and so do begonias and busy lizzies, they all like the sun and the heat.
Strangely my tomatoes aren’t doing all that well.