Periods of hot, dry weather are great for our visitors, and the sunshine can really bring the flowers out.

At Uppark, when the heat is on we adapt our gardening activities to suit – getting hedge cutting and anything energetic done first thing in the morning and scheduling more low-activity jobs such as edging, weeding and summer pruning for later in the day. We work in the shade as much as possible, drink plenty of water, wear hats and apply plenty of sunscreen regularly.

It’s not just gardeners who need extra care when the weather is hot: plants need attention too. Keep an eye on newly-planted beds which might look well established, but will not have developed sufficient root structure yet to withstand high temperatures. Water plants at their base either early in the morning or late in the evening, when the sun is low. If you cannot avoid watering during the day, remove the “rose” from your watering can and use the spout to aim at the plant base or roots where the water is really needed. Water splashing on the leaves and foliage when the sun is strong will cause unsightly scorching.

Late spring and early summer flowering shrubs may no longer be at their best, so prune gently to keep them compact. Take out old stems, reduce the length of the growing stems (known as “extension growth”), remove excess plant material and prune back to a bud or growth point.

Shrubs planted over the winter may need their tips cut off to encourage more growth at the bottom of the plant, which in turn will build strength and a more even shape. Keep up with the watering because it is unlikely these shrubs will have developed a substantial root system just yet.

Vigorous growers such as laurel can be kept under control by pruning at this time of year, and you can cut back on lawn mowing because hot weather really slows up grass growth. Lastly, a great job for a shady spot in the garden is taking cuttings from established plants, or propagating from seed, making new plants ready for next summer.

  • Visit Andy Lewis’s blog at upparkgarden.wordpress.com
  • Uppark House and Garden, South Harting, Petersfield, West Sussex, GU31 5QR, Tel: 01730 825857, www.nationaltrust.org.uk/uppark
  • House, garden, shop and restaurant open every day except Fri and Sat from Mar 17 to Dec 22 (excluding Nov 4 to 16)