Tips for Planting in Hot Weather

 

While conventional wisdom holds spring and fall as the prime time to plant perennials and shrubs, summer planting can be just as successful in many gardens. To be clear, we’re talking about new plantings, not transplanting established plants. The stress of digging up, dividing and replanting in a new location, combined with summer’s heat would prove too much for most trees, shrubs and perennials.

In contrast, removing a well-rooted shrub or perennial from its container adds minimal shock to the plant, because you didn’t dig the plant up. While heat and other summer conditions may still strain new plantings, with a little care and preparation, you can minimize the stress. What you’ll need: 

• Earth Essentials Sheep, Peat and Compost  

• Starter fertilizer with Mycorrhizae  

• Mountain Magic Soil Pep 

 

The key to planting now is to lay the foundation for the plant to develop good root systems. To accomplish this, incorporate organic material into the planting site at 50:50 ratio with the existing soil.

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. Plan to dig the planting hole twice as wide as the root ball and once again as deep. Once the planting hole is dug, fill it with water and observe how long it takes to drain. If it takes more than five minutes, add more organic material.

Next, add I/2 cup of ferti•lome All Purpose Plant Food (4-4-4) or Happy Frog All Purpose (6-4-5) to the planting hole and work it in. Both products contain mycorrhizae to help develop more robust root systems and improve nutrient uptake.

Remove the plant from its pot, center it in the hole and back fill with amended soil, using enough to create a shallow basin to facilitate watering. Keep plants evenly moist. This is best done by checking each plant daily and hand watering as necessary. Water slowly. Fill the moat you built around each plant and let the water slowly seep in. Don’t rely on automatic irrigation for the first few weeks. Applying mulch to new plantings is an effective way to conserve water and reduce heat stress on your plants.  

A 2- to 3-inch-thick layer of Mountain Magic Soil Pep mulch can reduce moisture loss from your soil due to evaporation.  

Plant in the evening. This will give the new plant some 8 to 10 hours to begin acclimating without the stress of direct sun and high temperatures.  

Provide some shade in the late afternoon. This could be as simple as draping shade cloth across some patio chairs or spare tomato cages.  

Planting during the warm summer months can be successful if you prepare the soil properly and water consistently. 

 

Now’s the time to get your Lawn ready for Summer

 

Getting your lawn ready for summer is all about giving your grass the best growing conditions you can. Just like every other plant, tree and shrub in your landscape, your lawn will only do as well as the soil it’s growing in. If the soil wasn’t amended properly when your lawn was first planted, summer’s heat can bring on a myriad of problems, including brown patches, thin spots and turf die back. You know you have a problem when your grass looks bad no matter how much water you give it. Short of tearing your lawn out and starting over, there are steps you can take now to improve your soil and keep your lawn looking good through the summer season. Step one, aerate. Though we traditionally think about aeration in the spring, aerating your lawn in the summer is just as beneficial. Core aeration will open the soil, improve water and fertilizer utilization and reduce water runoff.

Step two, add humate to your soil by applying organic HuMic.  Humate is basically super compost which improves soil structure, encourages root growth and helps your grass take up nutrients more efficiently. HuMic comes in granular form and is easy to apply, using your fertilizer spreader.

Step three, treat your lawn with Revive®. Revive® acts as a wetting agent, helping water soak into the ground, down to the root zone, resulting in less evaporation, run off and better water utilization. Revive® is available in granular and liquid form. Revive® granular has the added benefit of a small amount of Nitrogen.

Step four, top dress with organic material. Top dressing is the process of applying thin layers of compost, worm castings or peat moss to your existing turf. Top dressing at regular intervals will help reduce the clay content in your turf grass soil and increase microbial population and activity. Microbes work to improve the relationship between turf grass roots, soil and nutrients. As a result, turf grass develops more vigor and stress tolerance, reducing damage from high temperatures and traffic. A nice, thick lawn requires a healthy soil base. By taking the steps to build your soil, your lawn will thrive through the hot summer months ahead.