All For A Garden

With Summer temperatures climbing all over the country, it is so important to stay cool and hydrated.  Your plants need a little hydration too!

Yes, temperatures have been awful, but there are ways to salvage and protect your plants from the blistering heat. Here are some tips for dealing with the heat. Remember to grab a hat, lots of water and sun protection gear of your own before heading into your garden.

1. Water Deep

Deep watering at the base of the plant for a long time is the best way to revive and protect plants, because it coaxes roots deeper into the ground. according to master gardeners, Plants are like people, they get lazy, If they get water for 5 minutes every day, they keep their roots near the surface, so by watering deeply you’re training the plants to send their roots deep in the soil where the water is. In general, deep water most plants once a week. For how long? It depends on your soil, but long enough to saturate the soil a good foot in depth. Vegetables might need deep watering two or three times a week when it’s really hot.  Here is a tip: sink 5-gallon planting containers (the type with drain holes) between plants in the garden and then fill them three times with water, once a week.

If you are watering from the hose, make sure the hose has not been left in the sun, or wait until the water runs cool. Hot water can burn tender roots as sure as sun burns the foliage.

I collect water in rain barrels from the gutters off the roof. This way I use less water especially when there is a ban on water use. If you know a hot spell is on the way, you can also prepare by watering deeply at ground level, ideally at night, when the air is cooler.

2. But don’t Overwater

Plants sometimes wilt from the severe sun, even when they have sufficient water. Test the soil before you water. If a pot feels heavy or the soil feels damp an inch or so under the ground, your plant probably doesn’t need more moisture.

3. Do not water in the sun

As tempting as it sounds, don’t hose down your plants in the middle of the day; those water droplets turn into mini magnifying glasses on the leaves and intensify the heat. I recommend spraying plants to cool them down, but only after the sun sets.

4. Set up Some Shade

Move potted plants into the shade. A big beach umbrella works, as do airy (30% to 40%) shade cloths for gardens . You can also use old bed sheets, rigged-up cheesecloth or propped-up cardboard to give your plants a break from the scorching rays. The key is to make sure your shade props allow air to circulate freely around the plants. Use light color material. If the only cloth you have handy is dark in color, remember that it can absorb heat and can in turn burn any foliage they touch, so keep it several inches above or away from the plants. Make a shade frame out of PVC and drape fabric over it. I sometime use decorative flags as accents in the garden.

5. Don’t remove Damaged Foliage and Wait til fall to Prune

Those brown leaves and branches serve as protection against additional damage and could actually be harboring living tissue, so hands off the pruners, at least for now. Even plants that look OK are going to be stressed in this heat, and pruning just adds to it. Let them grow as they wish and prune when it’s cooler.

6. Prune the Roses

The no-pruning rule doesn’t apply to roses, because they are so susceptible to disease. You don’t want to leave a ton of dead tissue for diseases and insects, so remove withered blooms and branches.

7. Forget the Fertilizer

Root systems suffer in high heat; absorbing fertilizer can do further damage. Straight compost and low-nitrogen (numbers less than 3) organic fertilizers are OK, if they don’t include manure, fish or blood, because those contain salts, which can cause heat stress and burning.

8. Pick Fruit and Vegetables.

Sad to say, those blistered baby tomatoes, peppers, squash and beans aren’t going to miraculously ripen on the vine. Remove them so the mama plants can focus on recovering. Don’t expect more fruit to set until the temperatures dip below 85 to 90 degrees for 10 days in a row.

9. Container Plants

Container plants in the sun may need watering every other to everyday. Try putting potted plants inside larger pots to give them some insulation and shade, but make sure both pots have good drainage. Plants drown in standing water, even when it’s hot.

10. While on Vacation hire a Plant Sitter

Upon returning from even a short time away, expect that your garden may not be as thriving as when you left it.  If your trip will keep you away for a week or more get someone to water your plants.