Mulch all garden areas to retain the moisture in the soil and shade shallow roots from the sun. Mulches can be coarse, organic, inorganic or composting. Composting mulches feed the soil as they break down, while inorganic mulches are best suited to pots. Select stones or gravel with no clay content and spread 40-50mm thick on potting mix surface.
Ensure water is soaking into the soil. In many areas of Australia certain soils are hydrophobic and repel water. Check how far water is penetrating into the soil by digging or scratching around the soil surface. An application of Seasol Super Soil Wetter & Conditioner will save water and plants through summer.

Ensure the reticulation system is delivering water to the plants roots. An effective and efficient reticulation system saves water in the long term. Test sprinklers and drippers regularly for blockages and breaks.
Bunch pots together to create a microclimate that is cooling and protects plants from drying winds and extreme temperatures.
Pot up any plants that are in small pots to large containers. More soil around the plants roots will reduce root temperature and delay drying out.
Avoid fertilising with high nitrogen fertilisers. Nitrogen encourages lush green growth that is susceptible to sun scorch and heat damage.
Plant ground covering plants in garden beds. A round cover will act as a living mulch, shading the soil from the scorching sun.

Avoid moving in ground plants from one position to another throughout the warmer months. Transplanting from pots is successful throughout summer, but inground plants struggle to replace the moisture transpired due to the loss of fine feeder roots. It doesn’t take very long for them to dehydrate.
Select the right plants for the position. Be aware of where the summer sun reaches in the garden. Overhead sun in summer is harsh on plants and can damage plants in one day if the wrong plant has been selected.
Only remove 1/3^rd of the green foliage every time the mower goes over the area. Avoid scalping the lawn and removing all green growth. The lawn survives summer better and there is less chance of burning and browning when mowed regularly.
Apply Seasol (30mL per 9 litres of water) every 2 weeks throughout summer to help plants cope with the stresses of heat and drought.