It's hot and we all suffer. Your plants suffer too but there are things you
can do to relieve their stress. Here are a few of Evelyn's Best
Hot Weather Hints.
Cool down spray. Especially in shady areas you
can lower the temperature and raise the humidity by simply taking your hose and
spraying all the shrubs, trees, patio cover and maybe yourself. Do it during
the heat of the afternoon. Once or twice. AT some of the big box stores like
Home Depot I have seen home misting kits. Might work...think about it. Avoid
spraying late in the evening.
Mulch your flower beds. That added layer of mulch will cool the roots and conserve water. I like Gardiner & Bloome soil building compost because it is a good mulch now and the next year when you plant it will just go into your soil and improve it. See the special price coupon by clicking here. Weekly Specials
Group your potted plants together. Find the coolest shady or filtered sun spot in your garden. Put your potted plants all together. Adds humidity and keeps them cooler.
Double pot your hanging
baskets.Slip your fuchsia or other hanging plant into an extra
basket. Here's what you do---Put your basket into another equal or larger
container. Attach your hangers to the new container. Hang it back up or keep it
down near the ground for extra cool. The extra layer of plastic will keep the
roots cooler.
Soak your Containers if they get dryWhen a pot
dries out the soil shrinks back from the edge of the pot. You need to actually
set the pot in water for about 10 to 20 minutes to re-hydrate the soil mix.
Just watering it once won't do it. Don't leave it forever...that's called
drowning.
Plant in the evening and water in thoroughly
This gives your plant a chance to adjust and get started. Be
sure the soil is wet when you plant and that you have loosened the roots a bit.
Then be extra careful to be sure that you have pushed the soil down and around
the root ball. No air gaps, please. The first few days after you transplant you
need to be extra careful to keep your plants watered.
Really really hot days with wind. Three day emergency plan
Gather up all of your baskets and tender pots and put them either
in the cooler darker garage or in the coolest spot you have--down on the ground
surrounded with other plants.
Last of all--don't be too hard on yourself. Plants die...that's the truth.
Trim back the ones that look awful, give them some time to recover and regrow. That's all for now. More later on. Evelyn