Hot and not bothered should be our call to action, as we face a few days of weather extremes. It is June with July peaking through the window. The temperatures slated for this week is what we have come to expect in August. Did I mention it is still June?
Nevertheless, there is little we can do today about the heat wave coming our way. Do not sweat, there are a few things we can do to help our gardens survive as our climate evolves. Let’s chat about best hot weather garden practices first.
- Cover the soil. Use some type of mulch. At this point use leaves collected from last fall, grass clippings, compost, or mulch. Be careful to not pile any of these against the stems or trunks of plant material. The goal is to keep the soil a tad cooler than the above ground temperatures. This is also a good way to suppress weed seeds that might need a place to land.
- Water. The preferred time to water is very early in the morning, preferably before 8:00 am, or after rush hour in the evening. Watering when the air is cool is not just good for the plants, but the gardener as well. Watering at the base is advised. This will minimize unwanted diseases such as mildew on the foliage, or bacterial rot. Water deeply twice a week. This will encourage the roots to grow deeper into the soil where it is cooler.
- Do Not Fertilize. The last thing you want to do is encourage growth when it is extremely hot. If planting annuals, imagine they are running a race. Fertilizing in extreme heat pushes the plant into a state of extreme stress. Fertilizing can promote so much growth, the plant becomes stressed. If humans cannot handle stress, imagine a plant encouraged to perform in extreme heat.
- Prune later. As we know, pruning encourages growth. When it is hot outside, many plants want to simply be beautiful. Pruning in the fall when it is cooler will provide a better opportunity for growth.
- Protect your pots. Many plants cannot take extreme heat – labels are not always perfect. For example, I have found potted Geraniums have bigger, abundant blooms and healthier foliage when I provide a little buffer from the sun. It is your garden. Feel comfortable moving your pots to a shady spot until the hot weather calms down. Use shade cloth if the pot is too big to move. It is only temporary. (we hope)
Now that we have a plan of action, did you choose the right plants? Warm season gardening should rebrand. Hot season gardening is a more appropriate name. Summer used to be considered hot if a 90 degree day dared to show up. Over the past few years, 100 degree days are part of the seasonal norm. After pouring over catalogs all winter, that cute little annual is no longer holding u p to the heat. What does the gardener do? Try something new of course.
I have a renewed affection for portulaca and purslane. These garden friends know how to show up and bloom, despite the heat. They are annuals, always pot ready, however great as an underplanting in full sun with optimal drainage. Low maintenance no matter where it is planted. Adding purslane to my salad is also quite the treat. I grew up planting portulaca with my Mom in our summer garden. A pot along the edge of my walkway reminds me of that shared experience.
A few annual plants to consider are Lantana, zinnias, marigolds, cosmos, and globe amaranth to name a few. Check your zone and seed packet days to harvest. You might be able to seed a late blooming cutting garden.
If you love perennials try Delosperma, Yarrow, Echinacea, Linum lewisii, and Perovska. Each of these plants are sure to stand up to hot temperatures as well as less than perfect conditions. I planted Linum lewisii at the curb to grow as the bulb foliage yellows. It is truly neglected. The trashcans have fallen on them, the salted snow piled onto them from the street, yet they thrive.
As the temperatures rise, remember it is only almost July. August will come, it will be hotter, and we can sail into September. That will be a perfect time to remember how we handled a successful summer garden, while avoiding being hot and bothered.
I think I’ll use some lemon balm and lemon basil for a glass of iced tea tonight. Are you growing herbs from your garden for iced tea? I heard they like it hot.
