Aiyeeee! Summer’s heating up now, with temps expected to creep into the 90s this week. If it feels hot and humid to you, just think how your plants feel.

They’re out in it all day. (I’m assuming you have the option of air conditioning, a good fan or a nearby movie theater.) So be kind to them and . . .

WATER. Early in the day is best. You won’t “burn” your plants or your grass if you water in the middle of the day, but more water will be lost to evaporation. If you can’t water early, wait until the evening, after it’s cooled off a bit. Watering at night isn’t recommended because leaves stay damp overnight, which can encourage pests and diseases.

MULCH. If you haven’t mulched yet, it’s not to late. Spread a couple of inches of organic matter (grass clippings, chipped leaves, woodchips, etc.) around perennials, annuals, even trees and shrubs. Mulch helps hold in soil moisture and keep soil tems from fluctuating.

FEED CONTAINER PLANTS. If you’re watering more, nutrients will be leaching from the soil. To keep your container plants looking their best, fertilize them on a regular basis.

HARVEST. Don’t let produce get over-ripe. Keep on harvesting to keep plants producing. (If you have too many veggies, donate them to a food shelf or to me. I love veggies.)

DEADHEAD. To keep annuals looking good and producing into fall, removed spent flowers.

Am I forgetting anything? What are you doing to keep your plant friends happy and help them beat the heat?

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 30th, 2008 at 8:09 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.