Coping with the heat.

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I’m going to add a Brise Soleil to the side door and rear window currently covered with an old dust sheet. Also looking at putting some screening on rear conservatory/porch for next round of heat this summer.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brise_soleil
Same principle as a pergola, they're a good solution but take a bit of a hammering from the sun and the weather. You might want to make them plastic and/or demountable for maintenance and to maybe put away for winter.
 
That would work well, and if the frame also comes apart you can roll it up in a single bundle ready for the next season. It'll need to be able to handle wind gusts.
On my greenhouse I loose lay the screening on the outside with some soft weights, e.g. little sandbags on strings. That way it can lift up a bit, flap and fall back down again in big gusts.
 
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Well, awke to rain and cooler temps today. What a relief for the garden, and for me. The water butts are almost empty, and my shoulders and wrist are aching from carrying gallons of water up and down the garden each morning and evening.
My spinach has bolted too. I havnt even begun to harvest it yet.
Still, not to worry, I'm happy we had a nice warm spell, now some rain, and cooler temps will mean the garden will begin to thrive again. The soil definatly needs a good soaking now.
I've got every bucket and even ice cream containers out collecting the rain for helping to fill the water butts, as non of mine can be connected to downpipes.
I'm glad I bought the sunnies, factor 50 and rehydration sachets just in time for it to cool down and rain
Still havnt had the drenching we were promised. It's just gentle rain atm. Quite refreshing after all that heat.
 
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Worked flat out yesterday to get a ply roof on my timber store and all my nice dry timber off the lawn, and back under ply/tarp cover before the rain came. Just about made it in time and we got a heavy drench overnight.
I've a cunning plan in mind to equalise levels in my butts off the gutters by using a ground level hose and bottom butt connectors. I'll let you know if it works.
 
The water butt is slowly filling, just about a third full now, after adding all the buckets and other containers of water I set out.
Even full, it won't last the summer, if it gets realy hot again. Bit of a worry. I've packet the veg beds, don't want to loose anything. I'm going to try mulching this year, but wondering what would be the best to use. And how to get it home without a vehicle.
Can't use the grass mowing as my lawn area is full of creeping buttercup and it just roots if i put it on the beds.
Anyone recommend something that retains moisture in extreme temps? It gets realy hot in my garden. I had temps of 39° last week at the top of the garden, which is fully enclosed with a 5 foot fence , south facing slope, no shade.
 

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