Maintaining your plants during hot weather
The hot summer temperatures have actually been an important theme this gardening season, and we get a lot of questions that relate back to heat. So, we thought it would be a good time to review a couple of common scenarios:
First up, gardeners heading out of town for a few days often wonder how best to keep thirsty plants happy and healthy during intense weather. For in-ground gardens, some easy suggestions include watering deeply before heading out (soaker hose ideal for this), using wheat straw mulch to keep moisture in the ground (mulching reduces need to water by at least 50%) and doing appropriate pruning on leafy plants such as tomatoes (start with leaves at the bottom, and look for the foliage that does not end in flowers). Slow-release watering devices such as olas or gravity fed options such as Plant Nannies work wonders, as do simple temporary shade structures. In fact, providing a little shade is very appropriate for full sun plants during intensely hot weather.
