How to Care for Your Garden When It’s Hot

  

Gardening during hot weather can be challenging for you as well as your crops. As a gardener, self-care is always important, especially when temperatures soar. Some ways to accomplish this are by choosing lightweight, light-colored clothing, taking frequent breaks, and staying hydrated.  Wearing sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat, and tying a wet bandana around your neck also helps. In addition, break your chores down into small tasks 20 to 30 minutes long and work in the garden in the early morning, when it’s cooler. Now’s the time to remember that a well-cared for garden depends on a well-cared for gardener.  

As for your plants, here are some things you can do to help your garden thrive even during high heat.   

Make sure your plants get enough water.  Water regularly and deeply, avoiding overhead watering. Water early in the morning and water each plant deeply to ensure they receive enough hydration. Extreme temperatures can impair their ability to take up water through their roots, so consistent watering is crucial. The ideal time to water is in the cool hours of the early morning.

When you do water, avoid overhead sprinkling. Soak the soil at the base of the plant. This allows the water to penetrate deeply into the soil and reach the roots, giving your crops a proper drink before temperatures increase.    

If early morning watering is not feasible, the next best option is to water in the late evening.  

Add mulch. Mulch improves moisture retention and helps keep the weeds down.  Apply a layer of organic mulch around the base of your plants. Soil Pep is a good choice for your vegetable garden, because you can use it as a soil conditioner after the season is over.  Keep it 2 to 3 inches thick and maintain a few inches of space between the mulch and base of the plant. This will create a moat effect for catching water.  

 

Make your own shade. When it comes to extreme heat, the most important observation is when and where the harsh afternoon sun hits the hardest. Tomatoes and other sun-loving plants will benefit from some late afternoon shade.

Shade cloth or netting can help your plants a lot in hot weather by protecting them from both the heat and the sun. Shade cloth is easy to set up and remove, helping your plants stay cooler. 

  

Make sure your plants get the right nutrients. Fertilize with an organic fertilizer such as 7-4-5. Avoid high nitrogen fertilizers. Tomatoes and vegetables need more phosphate for roots and blooms, not vegetation growth. Fertilize in the evening on well-hydrated plants.   

 

Keep the weeds under control. Weeds are competition for water and soil nutrients, so keeping them under control will help your garden plants absorb the most water and nutrients they can get from the soil.   

Don’t forget your plants growing in pots and hanging baskets. They’re going to need more water as temperatures rise. 

 

Now’s the Time to Plant Flowering Perennials

 

June is Perennial Gardening Month. The Perennial Plant Association has recognized June as Perennial Gardening Month, highlighting the abundance of blooming perennials available and the opportunity to add more to your garden.   

  

Perennial flowers are a great investment for any garden. Unlike annuals, which only last for one season, perennials will come back year after year, providing a beautiful, sustainable addition to your garden and June is the perfect month for planting. The Summer Solstice occurred last Friday, June 20, spring's unpredictable weather is over, and warm soil and long days bring optimal conditions for planting flowering perennials.   

Once soil temperatures reach 60°F or higher, roots accelerate their expansion and begin absorbing nutrients more efficiently. This means they’ll establish faster, grow and flower quickly.

Two important factors to consider are matching the plant to the right light conditions and taking time to improve the soil. While many perennials come with an information tag, don’t hesitate to ask one of our staff members about planting location and plant care. We’ll be glad to help you.   

 

Once the site is selected, it's time to prepare the soil.  We stock locally produced bagged soil amendments such as Earth Essentials Sheep, Peat, and Compost. Bagged amendments are convenient and easy to transport. Rich in trace minerals, organic material and beneficial microbes, Earth Essentials Sheep, Peat and Compost improves the soil’s physical and biological health, essential for initial planting as well as sustained growth.    

   

Adding this organic amendment will allow our typical clay soil to drain better and the plant will be able to take up water and nutrients more effectively.  Dig a hole twice as large as the container your plant came in and half again as deep. Now mix the Earth Essentials Sheep, Peat and Compost at a ratio of one-third to 50:50 with the existing soil. Once the hole is dug and amended, fill it with water and let the water drain. Repeat this step, this time adding three and a half tablespoons of ferti•lome Root Stimulator to a gallon of water.

Slip your new plant out of its container and loosen the root ball.  Place the plant in the center of the hole and backfill with the amended soil.     

 

It's important to keep new plantings evenly moist. This is best done by checking each plant daily and hand watering as necessary. It’s a good idea to build a moat around each plant. That way, you can fill the moat and let the water slowly seep in. Don’t rely on automatic irrigation, at this point.   

   

Applying mulch to new planting is an effective way to conserve water and reduce heat stress on your plants, but it’s still important to check them daily and water as appropriate.     

   
When it comes to planting, choose a cloudy day or plant in the evening. This will give the new plant some 8 to 10 hours to begin acclimating to its new location without the stress of direct sun and high temperatures.     

   

There are many varieties of blooming perennials available now, many of these perennials will attract and support pollinators. With good soil preparation and the right amount of water, your new plantings will establish quickly and provide color and interest for many seasons to come.