When we reach the hottest days of July and August, a lot of gardeners start to worry about their flowers, vegetables, and other plants. That heat can take its toll, even on sun-loving shrubs and drought-resistant grasses. Often, our first impulse is to give them more water, but that might not always be the best course of action. Here are some different ways you can protect your precious plants from the unrelenting summer heat.
1. Mulch
There’s nothing like a thick layer of mulch to help plants retain moisture, plus insulate roots from extreme temperatures. Ideally, you should have 4-6 inches of mulch around your garden plants to protect them from heat and hold onto cooling moisture. But you don’t necessarily have to buy dozens of bags of regular mulch. Straw, grass clippings, pine needles, and leaves can offer the same kind of protection. It’ll cut down on weeds, too.
2. Wise Watering
In the heat of summer, water is very important. However, what plants need most is SMART watering. As you probably know, you shouldn’t water during the hottest part of the day (usually 10am-6pm). If you do, your plants will experience more evaporation than useful watering — so resist the temptation to water your plants when it looks like they’re asking for a drink during the day. Instead, water in the early morning or at night, when the sun isn’t up. Your goal should be a deep watering session 2 or 3 times per week. A drip or soaker hose irrigation system is usually more efficient for gardens than traditional sprinklers.
3. Shade
Did you know plants and flowers can actually get sunburned? When temperatures climb into the mid 90’s and beyond, your garden plants can slow or stop flowering. If you provide a little shade during the hottest part of the day, you can correct this issue. A patio umbrella, trellis, or lightweight fabric (even a sheet) draped strategically nearby can provide sections of shade where necessary.
4. Use Heat-Tolerant Plants
Some plants and flowers are more tolerant of the summer heat than others. Some great choices for vegetables include tomatoes, eggplant, basil, peppers, and tomatoes. As far as heat-loving flowers go, try aster, coreopsis, day lilies, hibiscus, geraniums, marigolds, yarrow, zinnia, sedum, and of course, sunflowers.
Leave a Reply