Preparing Your Perth Garden for Summer: Heat-Proofing Your Landscape

We don’t subscribe to this nonsense that “36 degrees is hot.” Perth’s summers bring temperatures of 40 degrees and higher, which will scorch our plants more quickly than “water restrictions.”

You understand exactly what I mean if you’ve ever watched your meticulously designed garden devolve into a post-apocalyptic wasteland by February.

Most people do summer garden preparation in Perth in the wrong way. They sit back and wait for the heat to come, then they panic and water everything while wondering why their lawn looks like charred toast. Sound familiar?

We have some good news for you: preparing your garden for Perth’s extreme summer temperatures should start in autumn, not when the temperature has already skyrocketed. Like good landscaping, it’s mostly about planning and figuring out the timing.

Why Perth Gardens Struggle (And It’s Not Just the Heat)

Sure, the temperature’s a killer. But Perth’s summer garden challenges go way beyond just hot weather. We’re dealing with:

• Sandy soils that drain faster than a broken bucket
• Intense UV radiation that’d make a vampire weep
• Water restrictions that seem to change more often than fashion trends
• Wind patterns that can strip moisture from plants in hours

And here’s the kicker: most gardeners are still trying to grow gardens that belong in England, not Western Australia. No wonder things go pear-shaped!

The Smart Approach to Heat-Resistant Plants Perth

Forget everything you think you know about “drought-tolerant” plants. Half of what’s sold under that label is still going to need routine watering to look half-decent. What you’re after are plants that will really grow in Perth without any fuss.

West Australian native plants should be your starting lineup — but don’t stop there. Mediterranean plants, South African species and some American desert natives do really well here, too.

A few sure-fire solid hits when it comes to Perth summer landscaping are:

• Grevilleas: These stunners bloom all summer and hardly require water once they take root. Plus, the birds love them.
• Lavender: Smells lovely, looks good, laughs at heatwaves. Just don’t plant the English variety; the Spanish or French ones are best.
• Banksia: Iconic, hardscaping with a capital ‘H’, and an awesome structure for your garden.
• Westringia: Also known as “coastal rosemary”, this plant can take anything Perth throws at it.
• Eremophila (Emu Bush): Gorgeous, low water, many different types of these.

But here’s the intriguing thing. It’s not simply a matter of choosing the right plants but also about designing an environment that suits them.

Soil Preparation That Actually Works

Perth’s sandy soils are both a blessing and a curse. Great drainage means roots won’t rot, but terrible water retention means everything dries out fast.

The fix? Clay and compost. Not kidding.

Adding clay to sandy soil sounds backwards, but it works. Clay holds moisture and nutrients that sand can’t. Mix in some excellent compost, and you’ve got soil that drains well but doesn’t dry out immediately.

Here’s the ratio that works

For every cubic metre of existing soil, add about 200-300 litres of clay-rich soil and 100-150 litres of compost. Mix it through properly – none of this surface-sprinkling nonsense.

Bentonite clay works particularly well because it expands when wet and contracts when dry, creating little pockets for air and water. You can grab it from most landscape supply yards.

Water-Wise Garden Design (Beyond Just Plant Selection)

The majority of people make serious errors here. They erroneously think that all it takes to create drought-tolerant gardens in Perth is to plant hardy plants and cross your fingers.

Smart garden design channels water where you want it and reduces evaporation everywhere else.

Microclimates are your friend

Don’t think of your garden as one big space with identical conditions everywhere. Smart design creates different zones with varying levels of heat, moisture, and protection. Create pockets of different conditions using:

• Taller plants to shade smaller ones
• Rocks and paving to create thermal mass
• Mulch zones that hold moisture differently
• Strategic use of structures for wind protection

Think of it as creating outdoor rooms, each with its own climate personality. Your heat-loving succulents get the full sun zone, while your slightly more delicate plants enjoy the protected areas.

The depression technique

Works brilliantly for Perth conditions. Instead of planting on level ground, create shallow depressions around your plants. When it rains (or when you water), the depression catches and holds water instead of letting it run off.

Mulching matters more than you think

But not all mulches are created equal for Perth conditions. Chunky bark mulch looks lovely but blows around in our summer winds. Better options:

• Decomposed granite
• Crushed limestone
• River pebbles (light colours reflect heat)
• Living mulches like native groundcovers

The right mulch can lower the soil temperature by 5–10 degrees and cut water evaporation in half. That’s the difference between plants thriving and barely surviving.

Irrigation That Makes Sense

Whether we have water restrictions or not, smart watering saves money and keeps your plants healthier. The water restrictions we have in Perth currently are changing all the time, so this is why people need to know.

• Sprinklers vs. Drippers: Drippers triumph for Perth summer landscaping. Your sprinkler also evaporates less, sprinkles more directly, and you can run it longer on water-restriction days.
• The majority are overwater in the winter and underwater in the summer. Particularly in cool weather, native plants eschew wet feet but require regular drinks while getting established.

• The finger test trumps any flash moisture meter: Stick your finger 5-10 cm/2-4 in into the soil around your plants. If it’s dry, water it. If it’s damp, wait. Simple.
• Water in the morning, never in the evening: Watering in the evening promotes fungal issues, and snails are drawn to the wet conditions. Plants have an opportunity to absorb moisture before the heat revs up with early morning watering.

Get your watering right, and you can reduce your water bill. Your plants will be healthier. It’s not really about watering more, then, but watering smarter.

Creating Shade and Wind Protection

The summer sun in Perth is fierce, and the winds from the east are vicious. Smart gardeners work with both. The average summer temperature in Perth is 30+ degrees, and there are UV rays that could make your skin crawl.

• Shade cloth is for more than just vegetables: Heat-loving plants, even those that aren’t prone to sunburn, do better during a heatwave when they are protected from the hottest part of the day. Shadecloths over outdoor living areas also mean your garden can be used more often in the summer.
• Living shade trumps artificial shade: Over the long haul. Fast-growing natives, such as Acacia species, will provide shade within a few years. Plant them on the side of your property that is west-facing to give them the most afternoon sun resistance.
• You don’t need a solid barrier to block wind: Imagine that a 50% permeable wind barrier is actually better for blocking wind than a complete wall, because it cuts down on turbulence. Think bamboo screens, lattice smothered climbing plants or protective planting.

Keep in mind, shade and wind protection go hand in hand. Get both right and you will generate microclimates so that even the hottest Perth summer days will be bearable for you and your plants.

The Maintenance Schedule That Prevents Disasters

Here’s where preparation really pays off. Most garden disasters happen because people don’t do the prep work.

Autumn tasks (this is critical timing)

Autumn tasks include deep watering to build soil moisture reserves, applying mulch before soil temperatures drop, pruning (except for native plants, which detest it), and improving the soil while it’s still workable.

Winter maintenance

Winter maintenance involves reducing the frequency of watering, checking irrigation systems, and planning any new plantings.

Getting your winter garden maintenance right sets the foundation for summer success. If this step is overlooked, it may result in needing to catch up throughout the season.

Spring preparation

Gradually increasing water frequencies, applying slow-release fertilisers, and installing any new shade structures.

Summer care

Deep, infrequent watering, monitoring for stress signs, and enjoying your properly prepared garden!

Stick to this schedule and you’ll avoid the panic that hits most Perth gardeners when the temperature soars. It’s all about working with the seasons, not against them. Miss these timing windows and you’ll spend the summer fighting a losing battle with the weather.

Common Mistakes That’ll Cost You

These errors are very common, as shown by decades of helping Perth gardeners and the countless online marketing campaigns you see for landscaping businesses. Learn from other people’s expensive mistakes:

• Overplanting: Plants need room to grow and to compete for water.
• Wrong plant in the wrong place: Attribute the issue to placing sun-loving plants in shaded areas or shade-loving plants in full sunlight. Although it may seem obvious, this situation still occurs.
• Not considering mature size: That adorable little native shrub could become a 3-metre monster. It is important to design for the adult scale, not the nursery scale.
• Ignoring the importance of soil preparation: Investing a little more time and money upfront can lead to fewer plant replacements and reduced water bills in the future.
• Following English gardening advice: Perth is not Surrey. Too much of what works in cooler, wetter places – this is the absolute worst.

By avoiding these mistakes, you will be ahead of 90% of Perth gardeners. Occasionally, what not to do is just as important as what you should do.

Making Your Garden Work Harder

Smart Perth gardeners think beyond just survival. Your summer-ready garden should also:

• Attract beneficial wildlife: Native plants bring native birds, which control insect pests naturally.
• Provide year-round interest: Choose plants that flower or fruit at different times.
• Create outdoor living spaces: Shade and wind protection make gardens more usable.
• Add property value: Well-designed, low-maintenance gardens are huge selling points.

The bottom line? Your garden should work as hard as you do. Make every square metre count.

The Reality Check

Establishing a truly fireproof garden will require both an initial investment and some time. There is no magic bullet that will transition your floundering garden into a summer of success overnight.

But here’s the thing: doing it right saves money in the long run. Fewer plant replacements, cheaper water bills, less time spent maintaining things. And you don’t have to hide inside all summer.

The right moment was five years ago. Now is the second-best time.

And Perth’s weather isn’t about to let up. Water restrictions aren’t disappearing. Plant prices keep rising. The later you wait, each year is another year of battling the weather instead of cooperating with it.

Begin with soil and a handful of the right native plants. Let your heat-resistant plant collection grow over time. Provide the proper environment, and the plants will grow.

Your future self (and your water bill) will thank you.

Preparing for Perth’s summer heat isn’t about instantly having the garden of your dreams. It’s creating resiliency in your landscape so that it can adapt no matter what our climate throws at it. And believe me, the climate is going to throw a lot at us.

If you need help with your garden strategy, feel free to reach out for expert advice.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]