# Heatwave strain on gardens and horticulture businesses > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/heatwave-effects-on-health-and-gardens > Updated: 2026-07-25T08:36:25.000Z. Sources: 21. Developments: 2. Continued extreme temperatures are pressing both human skin health and garden productivity across Europe. Dermatologists in Colombia have warned that intensified heat accelerates skin dehydration, weakens the epidermal barrier and promotes bacterial growth, urging increased hydration, protective moisturisers and sun‑avoidance. Gardeners are adapting to hydraulic stress by deep watering (≈10 L per plant in early morning or evening), mulching with a 5–8 cm layer of organic material to halve evaporation, and employing shade‑cloths, canopies or companion plants such as fig trees to cool soil. These practices are being applied in France, Spain, Finland and other affected regions. In the United Kingdom, summer heat combined with temporary hose‑pipe bans has repeatedly reduced garden‑centre performance. Footfall fell about 2 % in June 2026, with total sales down 2 % versus June 2025 and 5 % versus June 2024; plant sales slipped around 5 % versus 2025 and 13 % versus 2024. Higher energy, labour and input costs have further compressed profit margins, leaving many retailers with fragile cash‑flows. Horticultural traders continue deep weekly irrigation, early‑morning wilting checks and 6–8 cm mulch, while promoting drought‑tolerant climbers such as Bougainvillea. Legal guidance notes that selling home‑grown tomatoes protected by a Plant Variety Certificate without permission breaches French law, and some growers are repurposing old wells for low‑cost irrigation. ## Claims - A deep weekly irrigation of about 10 L per tomato plant can replace daily watering during hot weather. (corroborated by 2 sources) - June 2026 was the second‑hottest June on record in the United Kingdom. (single source) - Total sales at UK garden centres fell 2 % versus June 2025 and 5 % versus June 2024. (single source) - Plant sales at UK garden centres fell about 5 % versus June 2025 and 13 % versus June 2024. (single source) - UK water companies imposed temporary hose‑pipe bans that restrict garden watering during drought periods. (single source) - Applying a mulch layer of 6–8 cm can reduce water needs of garden plants by up to 50 %. (single source) - Lavender decline in summer is caused by over‑watering and poor drainage, not by drought. (single source) - Selling home‑grown tomatoes protected by a Plant Variety Certificate without permission is illegal in France. (single source) - Footfall at UK garden centres fell about 2 % in June 2026. (single source) - Average basket size at UK garden centres was around £30.40 ex‑VAT in June 2026. (single source) - Higher energy, labour and input costs squeezed profit margins for UK garden retailers in June 2026. (single source) ## Timeline ### 2026-07-25: UK garden centres face sales slump amid hosepipe bans and extreme June heat June 2026’s extreme heat and hose‑pipe bans cut UK garden‑centre footfall by 2 % and total sales by 2 % vs 2025, 5 % vs 2024, while plant sales fell 5 %‑13 % and margins tightened. 16 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/french-gardeners-boost-zucchini-harvest-during-heatwave ### 2026-07-06: Heat waves worsen skin health and threaten home gardens Heat waves are worsening skin dehydration and infections in Colombia and forcing gardeners globally to adopt shade, mulching and careful irrigation to protect crops. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/heat-waves-worsen-skin-health-and-threaten-home-gardens --- Cite as: Heatwave strain on gardens and horticulture businesses. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/heatwave-effects-on-health-and-gardens