Beat the Heat!

Greenwood's Top Tips for Outdoor Plant Care This Summer!

As temperatures rise, caring for our beloved gardens poses new challenges. Your plants, just like you, need some extra attention in extreme heat environments.

1. Hydrate Early or Late: It's crucial to water your plants either at dawn or dusk. Giving them a drink when the sun is at its peak (late morning to late afternoon) can cause the water to evaporate before the roots can fully absorb it.

2. Mulch Matters: Mulch can act as sunblock for your plant's roots, helping to keep the soil cool and moist for longer periods. Try a layer of organic mulch around 2-3 inches deep.

3. Select Sun-Lovers: Summer's not the best time to introduce shade-loving species to your garden. Select plants that are heat-tolerant like lavender, veronica, echinacea, shasta, blackeyed susan, or salvia, which can still thrive in intense sunlight. Click here for more sun loving perennials.

4. Routinely Check: Visit your garden daily. Look for signs of dehydration, often seen as yellow leaves, slow growth, sagging stems, or wilting.

5. Protection Plan: On excessively hot days, use shade cloth, old bed sheets, or beach umbrellas to help protect sensitive plants from sunburn.

6. Reduce Fertilizer: In extreme heat, plants undergo stress and their nutritional needs vary. Limit fertilizing as it may lead to further stress on your garden plants due its natural growth boosting factor.

7. Deep, Infrequent Watering: Short and frequent watering leads to shallow roots that dry out faster. Instead, opt for deep but infrequent watering, this encourages the plants to develop deeper root systems, which can withstand heat better.

8. Protect Potted Plants: If possible, move them to shadier spots. Plants in pots heat up much quicker; using lighter-colored containers can help reflect the sunlight and heat, keeping the contained roots more comfortable.

9. Install a Water System: If you're unable to water plants manually, consider setting up a drip irrigation or soaker hose system. These ensure water goes directly to the roots and minimize loss through evaporation.

10. Know Your Plant: Different plants respond quite differently to heat. Research the specific needs of the plants in your garden and tailor your care accordingly.

Gardening in extreme heat can seem daunting. With these tips, we hope you'll feel equipped to help your garden not just survive, but thrive this summer.

Happy Gardening!

Cheryl