Although many areas of the Bluegrass have received sporadic rainfall this summer, there has definitely not been a shortage of hot weather. This week are some useful tips for keeping your gardens, flowerbeds and container pots happy during this extreme heat:
• The first thing you need to think about when planning a new garden, is that native plants can tolerate the heat and humidity of the Bluegrass because they are used to the extreme temperature changes. So, to keep from having to water too much, try to stick with tried and true native plants over hybrids and exotic plants that require lots of pampering and care.
• Temperatures above 90 degrees F can speed up the normal growing process of a plant. This means most plants can take temperatures up to 90 degrees F fairly well. Anything hotter than that, the more the plant suffers! The longer high temperatures persist, the greater the injury to the plant.
• Hot soils can effect plant growth. Shallow-rooted and container plants can suffer from soil heat build-up. Deeper-growing roots penetrate to a level of better soil temperatures and moisture. Mulching the soil surfaces around plants - either in containers or in the ground - can help stabilize soil temperatures.
• Exposure to the intense sunlight of bright, cloudless, summer days can also be too much for some sensitive plants. Reflected light from walls or retained heat from buildings, sideways or roadways can also cause problems. Stunted plant growth and a yellow-white "burn" on the upper surface of older leaves are familiar symptoms of too much intense sunlight.
• When watering all types of plants during extreme heat, there are two rules of thumb: 1.) Only water early in the morning, or 2.) Only water late in the evening. Watering during the heat of the day can cause several problems like water evaporation and leaf wilt. When a plant has been suffering in the heat all day, you would think a drink of water would help, but it is much better for the plants if you wait until dusk or dawn. This allows the plants to have time to soak up the moisture and prepare themselves for the heat of another day. And if at all possible, drip irrigation is the perfect system for watering all plants - this directs the water right at soil level and decreases evaporation.
• Plant location is also a factor in having a healthy plant. Shaded locations help cut summer stress for heat- and sunlight-sensitive plants. Eastern exposures or open areas are generally preferred for blooming plants - these plants typically get early morning sun, but some shade in the afternoon. Southern or western exposures are subject to direct, intense sunlight. Another factor to consider is draft and wind exposure, especially when some plant foliage may be sensitive to burn by hot, drying air movement.
• Fertilizing during hot weather should be done with caution, especially if you use chemical fertilizers. Because the plant's growing process is sped up during hot weather, they use up nutrient reserves faster. But, rapid uptake of fertilizers by summer-active roots could result in fertilizer burn. I always mulch my plants with a layer of compost in the early spring, mid-summer and late fall - this works great for fertilizing plants. Compost tea is also another water to fertilize and this can be applied when watering.
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