21.05.2026
It’s easy to achieve: a garden where people and animals feel at home
Colourful, diverse gardens, terraces and balconies not only delight their owners – they provide food and shelter for insects and birds. Plants also provide shade and help alleviate the summer heat through evaporation. A bonus: unsealed surfaces absorb water and release it slowly. This helps mitigate the effects of summer storms following prolonged dry spells. With a clever choice of plants and smart maintenance, these benefits are effortlessly maintained even in the height of summer.
Good planning is half of the maintenance
Every plant has its own requirements in terms of location and watering. Choosing and combining plants according to their natural preferences lays the foundation for a long-lasting garden. Beds with hardy flowering perennials such as ornamental grasses, black cohosh or coneflowers are particularly low maintenance: once planted, they sprout anew every spring and enrich the garden for many years to come. Plants grown locally are ideally suited to the soil and climate – particularly in terms of water requirements. Their berries, seeds and pollen provide a rich food source for wildlife. Those seeking shade should also choose shrubs such as cornelian cherry or privet: they provide shade, offer food for animals and add structure to the garden.
To preserve the soil ecosystem and ensure the ground can continue to absorb and release rainwater, the lawn should also be watered. With the right mowing height, watering intervals can be extended: “The lawn should not be mowed too short. A length of around six centimetres is ideal in summer. The longer grass shades the soil, thereby reducing evaporation from the ground and preventing the soil from drying out,” advises GARDENA gardening expert. This summer cut has another advantage: the long grass allows some single odd weed to remain, providing food for animals.
Water smart, enjoy the summer
Water is a precious commodity, especially in summer – rainwater in particular, as it is softer than tap water and gentler on plants. To ensure it is available during dry spells, gardeners collect it in rain barrels or underground cisterns. Battery-powered rainwater tank pumps and garden pumps allow the collected water to be pumped conveniently and flexibly. Integrated into automatic watering systems, the battery life enables water to be supplied as needed without power access.
A garden with a diverse range of plants copes better with heat and dry spells – particularly thanks to forward-thinking planning and smart technology. It remains colourful and vibrant and is easy to maintain. “Green spaces help regulate the microclimate, especially in high temperatures. By planning ahead and using smart technology, you save time and get more out of your summer in your own garden,” explains GARDENA.
About Gardena
For over 50 years Gardena has provided everything passionate gardeners need. The broad assortment of products offers innovative solutions and systems for watering, lawn care, tree and shrub care and soil cultivation. Today, Gardena is a leading European supplier of high-quality gardening tools and distributed in more than 100 countries worldwide. Gardena is a brand of Husqvarna Group. Gardena Division has 3,110 employees worldwide. Further information on gardena.com.