How gardeners and gardens can weather the heat
The heat of midsummer is what separates hard-core gardeners from what I
The latter comprises those gardeners who spend as much time getting dressed for the garden as they do actually gardening. They don their color-coordinated outfits and approach their gardens as if they are walking into a surgical post-op room where one false move could spell disaster. They love to garden on mild spring days but not so much in the blistering sun.
And, in a way, who can blame them? Gardening during the heat of summer can be grueling. But with a little common sense and some planning, midsummer gardening can be easy on you while giving your garden the attention it needs.
Timing is everything: The best time to get real work done is either early morning, before the sun is too high in the sky, or late in the day, when it is going down.
Plants, like people, prefer moderate temperatures. If the heat is uncomfortable for you, more often than not your plants are stressed as well. Stressed plants are more prone to disease and insect damage, so reducing environmental stresses keeps gardens healthy and more productive.
Water wisdom: During hot spells, water early enough so that leaves will dry before the heat sets in. Fungal diseases are prone to attack and will spread rapidly on wet or damp foliage (think mold in a damp bathroom). If possible, water at the root level rather than spraying the whole plant with water. Not only is this method better for the plant, it is more efficient.
Soaker hoses on timers are excellent for large gardens. If you need to water a single specimen such as a newly planted tree, place a hose at the base and let the water trickle out for 15 to 20 minutes. The water will soak into the area around the root zone rather than just run off.
Insecticide use: I prefer not to use insecticides in my garden, as they kill beneficial insects as well. If you do use them, be sure to apply them in the early morning or late in the day. Many insecticides will burn the leaves of plants if applied in hot sun.
Weed attack: The one job that is most efficient in the hot sun is weeding. I always try to weed my gardens in late morning, as the sun is getting stronger.
If you don’t let weeds grow past the seedling stage, scratching the ground with a hand tool or hoe is enough to expose them to the hot sun, killing them quickly. When the soil is dry I leave withered weeds to decompose back into the soil.
Avoid weeding when the soil is wet. Weeds are adept at re-rooting; weeding after rain can mean having to weed twice if you don’t discard all the pulled plants.
“Sean Conway’s Cultivating Life” (Artisan Books) describes 125 projects for backyard living. His website is cultivatinglife.com.
- How gardeners and gardens can weather the heat
