Find out how mycorrhizal fungi improve your plants' water supply and actively support your garden during drought and heat stress in June.
When temperatures rise in June and a lack of rain dries out the soil, plants come under physiological stress. During this phase, the value of intact soil biology becomes apparent. Mycorrhiza, a network of fungal threads (hyphae), connects with the roots of over 80 per cent of all native plants. This is primarily arbuscular mycorrhiza, where the fungal threads penetrate the inside of the root cells without harming the plant.
The fungal network acts like an external extension of the root system. While a root tip can only reach limited soil pores, the microscopic fungal threads penetrate into the tiniest soil capillaries that are inaccessible to the root itself. This enables the uptake of water and dissolved nutrients – especially phosphorus – even under conditions where the plant would otherwise wither without these partners.
| Feature | Plant without mycorrhiza | Plant with mycorrhiza |
|---|---|---|
| Reach | Limited to root radius | Extended via hyphal network |
| Phosphorus uptake | Own transport mechanism | Efficient mobilisation by fungus |
| Heat tolerance | Low, quick to wilt | High, water reserves accessible |
| Soil protection | No stabilising effect | Improvement of soil structure |
Fostering these symbiotic networks is not a one-off task, but a process. Native wild plants such as the brown knapweed (Centaurea jacea) or the viper's bugloss (Echium vulgare) are excellent partners for local mycorrhiza. By avoiding pesticides and synthetic substances, you create the space for these essential communities, which make your garden more resilient to summer water shortages.
No. In healthy, organically managed soil, these fungi are already present. It is more important to protect their network by avoiding chemicals.
Yes. Destroying the soil structure by hoeing tears off the fine fungal threads (hyphae) and damages your plants' underground supply network.
Mineral fertiliser disrupts the symbiosis. Plants stop collaborating with fungi when nutrients are supplied artificially in excess.
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All species data comes from scientific sources (CC BY 4.0 / CC0). Attribution according to licence terms. Complete source overview →