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As it continues to heat up outside, it is important to care for your plants to help them survive and maybe even thrive after the brutal heat. Below are our favorite tips for plant health during a heat wave.
1. Give Your Plants Extra Water
High temperatures will require more watering because there is an increase in the rate of water lost from the plant’s leaves. This results in sunburn damage and wilting. Increase the amount of supplemental irrigation to your plants. The best time to do this is the day before a heat wave arrives. The best time to water plants is in the morning when temperatures are lower. Do not over-water because this can harm your plants, even in a heatwave.
2. Skip Fertilizing
Plants use all their resources to survive the heat and cannot spare the energy needed to take in fertilizer. Instead, the fertilizer remains in the soil and can burn the plant. When the hot weather is over, return to your regular fertilizing schedule.
3. Avoid pruning
Sunburned growth on your plants can be tempting to prune away but put away your pruners! This sunburned foliage protects the interior of your plant by providing shade and coverage from the sun. Wait to prune the sun-damaged growth until the temperatures return to normal in case there is another heatwave.
4. Provide temporary shade
On a hot day, we escape the heat by moving to the shade or indoors. Unfortunately, plants cannot move toward or into the shade, but we can bring the shade to them. Shade cloth and landscape burlap can be placed on top of the plants to protect them from the sun. If you can move your plants/containers to a shaded area your plants will thank you.
5. Mulch, mulch, mulch
Roots can also be affected by hot temperatures. Adding a layer of mulch around ground covers, shrubs, and trees will keep the soil a couple of degrees cooler while stopping it from drying out. Apply your mulch about three inches thick around the plants, spreading it near the drip line or water source. Ensure to keep it about six inches away from tree trunks.
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