These simple garden upgrades could help your outdoor space survive summer

These simple garden upgrades could help your outdoor space survive summer Maisie Bovingdon Published August 21, 2026 11:41am Updated August 21, 2026 11:41am The surprisingly simple trick that could stop your lawn dying this summer. (Picture: Metro/Wickes/Getty) Metro journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission – learn more Over the last few months, the UK has been hit with countless heatwaves, though some will say it’s been one long, relentless scorcher of a summer with temperatures soaring over 30 degrees. The high temperatures have had a huge impact on gardens and green spaces. What was once a luscious patch of green grass, has now become dry, yellow, and dead, plants are struggling to grow, and everything is looking a bit worse for wear. Add into the mix the hosepipe ban, and people are seriously struggling to find a solution to revive their gardens this summer. These bark chippings are a lifesaver for plants. (Picture: Metro/Wickes) According to home improvement retailer Wickes, searches for ‘plant protection’ and ‘garden shade’ have soared by 2400%, alongside searches for ‘creating shade in the garden’ in the last month alone. Watering the grass may seem like the only solution, which I know is banned, but there are other ways to save your outdoor space. Clair Albone, Senior Category Manager for Gardens at Wickes, recommends mulch as an alternative, or repurposing rainwater. She shares: ‘Improving soil health is a key tactic. By ensuring grass and lawns retain moisture, gardens stand a better chance of surviving during heatwaves. Applying a generous layer of mulch helps the ground retain moisture by reducing evaporation. This can be done early in the year to take advantage of showers, helping gardens stay moist and look greener for longer. Enriching the soil with Wickes Peat Free Multi-Purpose Compost also improves its structure and water-holding capacity, creating a healthier foundation for plants to withstand the summer heat.’ This water butt doubles up as a garden feature too! (Picture: Metro/Wickes) Clair also recommends building shade solutions. She continues: ‘A summer heatwave doesn’t mean sacrificing a lush, green garden. Easy shade solutions, like a DIY shade canopy, is an easy and effective way to shield plants from the scorching sun, and it offers instant protection.’ With the help of the gardening expert, we have whittled down the essentials worth investing in to save your green area, no matter how big or small the space may be. Shop The Best Gardening Buys At Wickes Apollo Weed Control Landscape Fabric While this fabric layer is useful for all garden spaces, or gravel, to control any weeds from growing, it can also be a protective layer for grass or plants because it prevents the sun’s harsh rays from damaging the greenery. Instead, this covering retains the moisture in the soil, and it allows just enough light and air in to encourage growth. Buy Now for £12 Smart Garden Plant Stix If your plants are wilting in the heatwave, these rods are a fuss-free solution to keep them upright. They can also be used to secure the aforementioned landscape fabric in place. Buy Now for £2.50 Charles Bentley Steel Pergola Gazebo If you are looking to create some shade in your garden, or patio, this is the perfect solution. Plus, it can be erected on the grass to shield that space from damage. This pergola promises to be easy to assemble, and robust enough to stay upright, thanks to the steel frame. It also features a retractable roof, so you can allow as much light in as you wish. Buy Now for £225 Water Butt Kit – 210L If you are looking for a way to save rainwater (we know it’s been dry for a few months), but having this water butt in the garden throughout the spring and winter months can help you in the long run when summer comes around. It can store up to 210L of rainwater, it is simple to install and use. Buy Now for £39 Latest heatwave news and guidance Strata Amesbury Ash Decorative Waterbutt – 120L If you need a water butt but you want one that looks a little more aesthetically pleasing, this option doubles as a flower pot. Buy Now for £75 Bark Chippings Bark chippings can be an alternative to grass, pebbles, or concrete to provide a sleek finish to your outdoor area. But they also offer numerous health benefits to the soil. The bark chippings can help to suppress weeds from popping up, they help to retain moisture, offer thermal protection, plus it can reduce fungal disease too. Buy Now for £13 Follow Metro across our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Share your views in the comments below Arrow MORE: Can I still BBQ in the garden? Here’s everything you need to know Arrow MORE: This 9-seater rattan garden furniture set with fire pit has been slashed by £771 Arrow MORE: Shoppers can get a hanging egg chair for just £89 in this huge garden furniture deal Puzzles Newsletter Get your favourite puzzles when they are ready to play on the website sent directly to you every day and track your daily streak!