THE HEAT IS ON! HOW TO PROTECT YOUR PLANTS FROM HEAT
August is here, and you know what that means in Indianapolis–sustained heat. We won’t be cooling off much overnight for a few weeks, and that non-stop heat is challenging for us and our gardens to endure. It’s time to embrace the old-fashioned habit of rising early and taking advantage of the slightly cooler early morning temperatures to keep your garden thriving and blooming.
Here’s how to protect your plants from the August heat in your garden.
Water your garden, lawn, perennials, trees, and shrubs early in the morning.
You may not be an early riser, but it’s worth it to get up early to water your plants. Or, invest in soaker hoses and a timer, so the watering gets done while you snooze. Watering in the morning gives your plants a deep drink of water that will help sustain them through the day, preventing wilting, burning, and crisping leaves.
A deeper soak every few days or once a week is much better for your plants than daily shallow watering, which can cause weak and shallow roots. Items like drip irrigations or soaker hoses will help make your watering more efficient.
Where possible, aim to water the soil instead of from above the leaves. Watering from above is less efficient since less water gets to the soil, and evaporates faster from leaves. And since watering restrictions are so common in the summer, you want to be as efficient as possible with what water you can use.
Hanging baskets can be taken down and set to soak in a kid’s play pool for thorough watering.
Watering from above, and getting water on the leaves can be refreshing for some plants, but it can also make some plants more susceptible to fungal problems. If you water at the soil level in the morning, it can help prevent powdery mildew and other fungal problems. Fungal infections usually appear when plants are damp overnight and the air temperature gets cooler.
Don’t forget your containers and hanging baskets, they’ll dry extra fast in the heat. Hanging baskets can be taken down and set to soak in a kid’s play pool for thorough watering.
Keep an eye out for pests on your plants.
Water-stressed plants are more prone to pest infestations; regularly check for pests, like Japanese beetles, spider mites, and lily beetles. These rude little interlopers can cause some serious damage as they snack their way through your garden, and your plants will have a harder time recovering in the heat of August.
Japanese beetle is most effectively controlled via insecticides. If you’re not thrilled about using insecticides though, you can also use BT, or Bacillus thuringiensis galleriae. BT is a natural bacteria that tackles all sorts of different pests, and is safe for use on both ornamental and food plants.
Spider mites, which are particularly common on roses this time of year, can be effectively treated with the hose. Spray them off your plants, making sure to get in all the nooks and crannies of branches, and the undersides of leaves. You’ll probably have to repeat this a few times.
If you have reblooming lilies, like Red Hot Returns, you’ll want to keep an eye on them for lily beetles as they start to bloom again. The most effective treatment is handpicking them. Check your plants 1-2 times a week, looking in the nooks and crannies, either crush them or drop them into hot soapy water.
Deadhead and trim to help conserve energy and encourage new growth.
Deadheading fading flowers helps your plants reduce the amount of energy they’re putting out, redirecting it into new buds or keeping leaves hydrated. In particular, snip off spent roses whenever you see them.
Your annuals can also take a decent trim now. Many of them may be starting to get leggy and tall now. Trimming them back will help them conserve water better, and push out some new growth which may give you another lush set of blossoms.
Cut back spent early spring perennials if you haven’t done so already.
Up until now, your spring blooming perennials have been soaking up all the energy and food they can create with their leaves, to store for next spring. But, the foliage will be starting to fade on most of them. You can snip yellowing and drying foliage off early-blooming bulbs and perennials now, so they’ll head into their dormancy period.
If you need some tools to keep your garden thriving through August, stop by the garden center. From hoses to mulch to trimmers and pest treatments, we’ve got what you need.