It’s summertime, and right now August is here with its very hot summer days. Many plants actually love the sunshine and can’t get enough of it. Yet there are other plants that can get tired and start to wilt within no time. Sometimes leaves even get scorched or wilted and then fall off the stem. Also, the whole pot can dry out and turn into a brittle piece of wood.
But there are many ways to give your plants extra protection until the temperatures drop again. You can shield your container plants and your most sensitive leaves from the intense afternoon sun. This way, you can give your plants the best possible chance of getting through the summer.
Why August Is Especially Stressful for Plants
By August, the heat and strong sunlight of the summer have been taking a toll on garden plants. Many have already grown through their peak period of growth, and some may have even begun to wind down for the winter. In containers, the roots of the plants are confined to a small amount of soil, which can heat up and dry out in the strong summer’s sun and rain.
Because a plant’s leaves contain so much water, during very hot weather, a plant will close up its leaf stomata to prevent losing too much water. By slowing down photosynthesis, the plant reduces its need for water. Heat stressed plants develop brown leaf edges and/or curled up leaves. In extreme cases of heat stress, the flowers on the plant may drop off. In the worst case scenario, the leaves on the plant can suffer from permanent scorching.
Be able to recognize the signs of heat stress on your garden before it is too late and end up with lots of damaged plants.
Give Plants a Break from the Afternoon Sun
In the morning the sun shines warmly on your garden. But in the afternoon the sun’s rays become increasingly intense. Within a few hours the temperature can rise by several degrees and the leaves of your plants can become scorched.
Move containers to filtered sun or afternoon shade, such as under a covered patio, pergola, a shade tree or the east side of your house. If you can’t move them, cover with a temporary shade cloth that will block 30-50% of sunlight to protect them from intense heat without impairing their growth.
Keep Container Roots Cool
Watering your container plants during August is essential to their survival during the heat. In addition, make sure to water your plants deeply, rather than giving them a series of short waters throughout the day. This will help the roots of the plants to grow further into the soil, so that the plants can draw on the stored water when needed.
In addition, dark-colored containers absorb and retain heat. Try placing your container plants in larger decorative pots, or even covering the outside of your black nursery containers with burlap. This will help to reduce the amount of heat that is absorbed by the container and then transferred to the soil and roots of the plant.
Simply putting container gardens in a group can help create a cooler, more humid environment. As the plants grow, they form a living shade for each other, which helps to cut down on moisture loss and protect roots from the heat of the sun.
Two to three inches of organic mulch in the container bed will help keep roots cool by insulating them in the soil. This also will help regulate soil temperature as well as to slow down water evaporation.
Water Deeply and Consistently
Finally, protecting plants from heat stress often centers around watering properly. Rather than watering lightly throughout the day, for example, give your plants a good, long soaking of water early in the day. This way, they will have time to absorb all of the moisture you are giving them before the temperature begins to rise again.
Deep watering will help roots to grow deeper into the soil and allow them to draw on the available moisture for longer. It also means that the plant has all day to use the water that it has been given, rather than it being lost before it can be used.
Container plants may need to be watered on a daily basis during very hot weather but smaller pots and those on hanging baskets may need watering twice a day. Remember to check the soil regularly to see if it needs watering. A good rule of thumb is to check the top inch of soil and if it feels dry then it’s time to water.
It is very important to avoid watering your plants during the hottest part of the day, as a lot of the water can evaporate before it reaches the roots of the plants.
Protect Delicate Foliage
However, some plants have thinner leaves and require more shade. The following plants benefit from filtered afternoon light during August. They may develop leaf scorch with exposure to direct afternoon sun and develop bleached or crisp brown edges. The following plants are examples of those that require filtered afternoon light during August. Impatiens, Coleus, Caladiums, Begonias, Hydrangeas and many varieties of Tropical Foliage plants.
I told you in a previous post that even partially healthy leaves are good for your plant as they are still contributing to the plant’s energy production. New growth is also being produced in these areas.
Hold Off on Major Garden Projects
It’s late summer, and that means it’s almost time to cease heavy pruning and transplanting, and cease using fertilizers. These garden activities pose a lot of environmental stress on the plants, and as we know, the plants are already dealing with stress from the extreme weather.
Rinse and Clean Up Diseased Material to Keep Other Garden Pests at Bay. During the hottest time of the year, diseases and garden insects can spread fast to weaken up plants of any type. They find it very easy to get a foot hold on stressed up garden plants and keep a grip on them as they develop into even bigger problems in the garden.
This also applies to major planting projects. We recommend that you wait until early fall, when the cool weather will enable your newly planted trees, shrubs, and perennials to quickly recover from the stresses of planting.
Watch for Signs of Heat Stress
Watch for Signs of Heat Stress. Observing your plants for signs of heat stress can ensure that problems are addressed before more serious damage is done. Look for persistent wilting, curled leaves, scorch on leaf edges, yellowing of leaves, reduced flowering, and slow growth.
Wilted plants that have been watered can also be a sign of an issue, such as overcrowded roots, poor drainage and root diseases.
Early detection and correction of problems is key to preventing further damage to the plant for the remainder of the season.
Trust the Experts at Premier Nursery
Just a little extra attention to your garden in the hottest part of the year can result in a healthy, beautiful landscape well into the fall. For the best guidance on how to care for your specific garden, you can rely on the experts at Premier Nursery. We have years of experience with trees, shrubs, flowers, perennials and container gardens.
Premier Nursery experts are ready to help. Our nursery staff, with their years of experience and passion for trees, shrubs, flowers, perennials and containers, will be happy to provide additional information on the above information as well as ideas for new plants that will continue to thrive in your yard and garden throughout the summer and into the fall.
It is wonderful that with a little care during the last days of summer, you will have beautiful, healthy and sturdy plants to enjoy throughout fall. Just pay a little attention to providing them with afternoon shade, keeping roots cool, watering them wisely and from time to time also seek an expert’s advice and you will be able to enjoy your lovely garden of patio pots and a big landscape of trees, bushes, flowers and of perennials and even in containers for long time to come.
