Confession time: I’ve spent the past week trying desperately to keep myself and my garden alive, and my efforts have made me realize that heat waves have a funny way of making us panic. .. often in a way that does more harm than good.
During periods of extreme heat, plants go into survival mode. Instead of focusing on producing new growth, they conserve water and protect themselves from stress. This means that the way you tend to your garden during a heatwave should look a little different than the rest of the summer.
I understand that, obviously. the moment the temperatures rise, it’s tempting to grab the hose, cut away anything that looks dead, and give struggling plants a dose of fertilizer in the hopes of helping them bounce back. All of these well-intentioned efforts, however, can and will make things worse.
Gardening mistakes that can kill plants during a heat wave
When the temperatures rose recently, I got to work and when my husband (a professional gardener) came home, I proudly told him all the wonderful things I had done to keep our plants alive and thriving in the heat.
Give it to him lovingly, albeit very tiredly, calling me a threat. Because, as it turns out, I had committed three cardinal sins when it comes to gardening in a heat wave…
1. Incorrect watering
(Image credit: Westend61/Getty Images)
When your plants start to look droopy in the afternoon sun, it’s natural to want to hit the hose right away. But watering in the middle of the day isn’t really the most efficient approach.
In the heat of the afternoon, more water is lost to evaporation before it can soak into the soil and reach plant roots. On the contrary, the the best time to water the plants it’s early in the morning when temperatures are cooler and plants have time to absorb moisture before the heat of the day sets in.
Instead of watering little and often, give the plants a deep soaking that encourages the roots to grow further into the soil, where the moisture lasts longer. Water at the base of the plant rather than wetting the foliage and remember this containers and hanging baskets may need extra watering later in the day during prolonged heat.
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Terrain
Heritage Garden Hose
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XLUX
Long Probe soil moisture meter
A 16-inch sensor allows you to easily measure soil moisture in all your garden beds.
Terrain
Daffodil Copper Rain Chain
Rain harvesting it’s already the chicest trend of all (who doesn’t like to grow sustainably), but this cute AF rain chain takes things to a whole new level.
2. Fertilizing Stressed Plants
(Image credit: Oliver Helbig/Getty Images)
It’s easy to assume that a struggling plant needs feeding, but in very hot weather, fertilizer it can really add to his stress. In fact, many experts say this is one of those common garden mistakes that can kill plants during a heat wave.
When temperatures are extremely high, plants naturally slow down their growth to conserve energy. Fertilizer encourages fresh, tender growth, which requires even more water and is especially vulnerable to scorching in hot weather. Applying fertilizer to dry soil can also increase the risk of root burn.
If your plants seem stressed by the heat, focus on watering them properly. Once the temperatures return to normal and the plants begin to grow actively again, you can resume your normal feeding schedule.
3. Pruning the burnt leaves
(Image: Future – Amy Draiss)
I have a habit of picking at things (woe to whatever split ends appear in my hair; they will never survive my obsessive split ends). However, while the brown, crunchy leaves aren’t exactly attractive, you should resist the urge to prune them right away.
Although damaged foliage may no longer appear healthy, it can provide valuable shade for the stems, fruit and developing leaves below. Remove any vegetable sunburn during a heat wave it can actually expose the rest of the plant to even more intense sunlight, increasing the risk of sunburn and further stress.
Unless a branch is dead, diseased or poses a safety hazard, it is usually best to wait until cooler weather arrives before doing any major pruning. Once the heat wave has passed, you can remove the damaged growth and allow fresh new shoots to take over.
Try slow watering during hot weather:
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Classic Olla pot with lid
Planning a long vacation? The makers of this olla say you can combine it with recycled water or wine bottles for extended watering.
Back to the roots
Self-watering Terracotta Olla Pot
Built to support the needs of two large plants over a long weekend, this budget-friendly olla pot is a great investment.
GARDENBRO
4 pcs Ollas Terracotta Pots
A self-confessed plant killer has heaped praise on this olla kit, insisting they only need to water once a week with it in situ.
Instead of trying correct plants subject to heat stress, focus on reducing the stress they are under. My husband swears by a thick mattress mulch can help keep the soil cooler and reduce moisture loss and delay planting or transplantation until the temperature drops is the best way to give new plants a much better chance of establishing successfully.
Basically, heat waves can be tough on gardens, but they don’t have to spell doom. Sometimes the best thing to do is to resist the urge to over-care for your plants. Be more cool. Do less!
Honestly, if you water wisely, avoid unnecessary pruning and fertilizing, and let your garden ride out the heat, your plants will often recover much better than expected when things cool down. Maybe better than you if you forget that all-important sunscreen!
