A hotter, drier summer is coming. Here’s how to get your garden Garden Day ready

With seasonal forecasts pointing to hotter-than-normal temperatures and below-normal rainfall across much of South Africa in the months ahead, gardeners may need to rethink how they use water to keep their gardens thriving this summer.

Following an unusually dry winter in parts of the country, South Africans may be heading into a summer where every drop counts. With seasonal forecasts pointing to warmer-than-normal temperatures and below-normal rainfall across much of South Africa, now is the time to prepare gardens for the months ahead.

But preparing for a dry summer doesn’t mean giving up on lush, colourful or productive gardens. In fact, with Garden Day taking place on Sunday 18 October 2026, now is the perfect time to make a few simple changes that can help gardens use water more wisely, retain moisture for longer and continue to flourish – ready to be celebrated when South Africans are invited to down tools and come together to enjoy their green spaces on this special day.”

“A water-wise garden doesn’t have to mean a dry or boring garden,” says garden designer and gardening expert Ian Dommisse. “There are so many ways to make better use of the water we have, while still creating gardens that are beautiful, productive and enjoyable.”

Here are five simple ways to get your garden Garden Day ready and better prepared for the summer ahead:

1. Make every drop count:

   Capture suitable greywater from the kitchen, bath or shower and reuse it in the garden instead of sending it down the drain. When reusing kitchen greywater, avoid water containing oils or fatty substances, which can cause problems in the soil and irrigation systems. Using an organic or eco-friendly dishwashing liquid, such as Triple Orange, can help make kitchen water more garden-friendly.

2. Get water to the roots:

   Olla pots are porous clay pots buried in the soil that slowly release water directly to plant roots, reducing evaporation and water wastage.

3. Give your soil a helping hand:

   Mulch helps protect soil from heat and evaporation while improving its ability to retain moisture. Use whatever is available – from fallen leaves and compost to bought mulch.

4. Choose plants that can handle the heat:

   A water-wise garden doesn’t have to be boring. Choose beautiful, drought-resilient plants suited to your local climate for colour, texture and interest with less water.

5. Think about greywater for the long term:

   For a bigger investment, properly designed greywater systems can capture household water in a tank and redistribute it to the garden.

And preparing a garden for a hotter, drier summer doesn’t have to mean turning gardening into another chore. Garden Day is an annual celebration of South Africa’s gardens, inviting people to pause, gather and enjoy their green spaces – whatever their size or shape. Now in its 11th year, it celebrates everything from leafy backyards and productive plots to balconies, windowsills and shared community spaces. At its heart is the idea that every garden matters and that growing something, however small, is worth celebrating.

This year’s theme, “From Garden to Table: Grow, Gather, Celebrate”, encourages South Africans to grow, gather and celebrate the many ways gardens enrich our lives, from providing fresh food and supporting biodiversity to creating spaces to connect, relax and spend time together.

With a little preparation now, gardens can be ready not only for Garden Day but for the season that follows.

Garden Day takes place on Sunday 18 October 2026. Gardeners can find practical, month-by-month advice on what to plant and do in their region in the Garden Day Grow Guide, available online at gardenday.co.za.

Whether you have a sprawling garden or just a few pots on a windowsill, Garden Day is an invitation to grow what works for you, make the most of what you have and celebrate the joy of gardening – whatever the weather brings.