Germany's heatwave prompts garden water‑saving advice

A severe heatwave sweeping Germany, with temperatures expected to reach 40 °C, is drying out soils and forcing garden owners to adjust their watering practices. Experts recommend irrigating lawns and beds early in the morning or late in the evening, directing water to the root zone, and limiting watering to two strong sessions per week.

Mowing should be done at a higher cut – seven to eight centimetres – to keep the grass shade‑cool and retain moisture; short cuts lead to shallow roots and higher water demand. Mulching with organic material such as bark or grass clippings reduces surface evaporation, while collecting rainwater in barrels provides a sustainable supplemental supply.

Gardeners are also urged to select drought‑tolerant species suited to a drier climate, such as thyme, lavender, rosemary, Bermuda, Zoysia or fescue grasses, and to avoid water‑loving plants like hydrangeas. "The cut length in summer is decisive," says garden professional Stefan Hintringer. Municipal water‑use restrictions have already been imposed in towns such as Hille, Hüllhorst, Bad Oeynhausen and Löhne to curb consumption.