Beat the Heat

3 Ways to help plants survive the summer

1. Don’t plant when temperatures exceed 90 degrees. Trees and shrubs will become more susceptible to stress and transplant shock. If you must plant, plant in the evening, water deeply, and lay down a thick layer of mulch to help moderate soil temperatures.

2. Water deeply, but less often. This is especially true for newly planted trees and shrubs. Gardeners might be tempted to water daily in hot weather, thinking this will help plants deal with hot temperatures. But often, especially in clay soil, tree and shrub roots will rot when given excessive amounts of water. Deep water new material no more than every 2 or 3 days.

3. Be patient. Hot weather is hard on many plants. Accept that they may not look their best until the weather cools. Chances are, when temperatures drop, you will observe new growth—a sign that plants are established. For additional reassurance, check on your plants first thing in the morning, after the plant has had a chance to cool overnight. If its appearance has improved, the plant is most likely doing well.