The Best Practices for Planting in Hot Weather

 

Whether you’re looking to refresh your existing garden, replace a plant that didn’t recover from the winter, or you need to relocate an existing plant, there are times when it’s necessary to plant in the summer season. To be successful, it’s important to employ these best practices for planting in the heat. 

First, know where you’re going to plant and prepare the planting site in advance. This includes digging the planting hole twice as wide and once again as deep as the container the new plant is potted in.

Plan to amend the planting site with organic materials at the rate of fifty percent existing soil and fifty percent organic material. Once the planting hole is dug and amended, fill it with water and make sure it drains. If the water tends to pool at the bottom, add more organic material.

  

Next, incorporate a mycorrhizal inoculant into the planting hole soil.  Mycorrhizae are beneficial soil fungi that form a relationship with plant roots. They help roots grow faster and bigger. This increased size improves water and nutrient uptake.  Mycorrhizal inoculants are available as single products or incorporated into a fertilizer such as Happy Frog Steamed Bone Meal.  

 

Plan to plant in the evening, after sundown. This will give the new plant time to begin acclimating to being in the ground without the stress of direct sunlight and high temperatures.  

 

 

When it comes to moving an existing plant to a new location, follow the same process. Dig and improve the soil at the new planting site. Make sure the new site drains well. Add a mycorrhizal inoculant to the planting hole. Plan to dig and move the plant in the evening. Remove any flowers and spent flowers to redirect the plant’s energy to its roots.

Using a garden fork, dig as large a root ball as possible. Plant in the new hole as quickly as possible. It’s important to minimize the amount of time the root ball and roots are exposed to air.  

 

Once your plants are in the ground, applying organic mulch will help conserve water and reduce heat stress on your plants. For most plants a three-inch-thick layer of organic mulch will suffice to reduce moisture loss from your soil due to evaporation. Use enough mulch to create a shallow basin to facilitate watering. 

 

When applying mulch to planting beds, always keep the mulch material three to four inches away from the bases of trees, shrubs, and perennials.  You want to avoid piling mulch up around the base of the plant. 

Another way to reduce transplant shock and help plants adjust is to use temporary shade, especially for the late afternoon hours.  This can be accomplished by using shade cloth draped across a trellis or other support.  

Remember to check your plants daily for the first eight to ten weeks. Make sure they stay hydrated. This is best accomplished using a hose, rather than relying on a sprinkler system. Sprinkler systems may not provide adequate water for recent transplants.    You want to avoid watering overhead and with a hose, you can direct the water to the root system.