Sometimes, especially when an unusually hot summer occurs in your area, extreme weather events can become more common than we would like. In more temperate climates, such a change cannot last long, and many plants recover quickly or suffer minimal heat damage. In warmer climates, however, a very dry summer can last for many months. Do you know how to be the staunch protector of your garden?
Steps
Step 1. Think about what you can do before it gets hot
Meteorologists very often warn us when it is likely that there will be some hot days, or if the season as a whole promises to be tough. In addition, you can check the weather forecast in your area online.
Step 2. Evaluate the water use scenario
If there are, or will be, minimal water restrictions, the job is much easier, but if there are severe water restrictions, protecting your garden may need extra effort and foresight.
- Water saving methods include using a mulch; at least a 10cm layer, with a cross-linked drip irrigation system (which is best hidden under the mulch), using water retention products, such as water-retaining crystals, bentonite clay or attapulgite clay. The cheapest source of these elements is often granular clay-based bedding (if it dissolves in water, which will also offer better water-holding capabilities), or organic materials like compost and other potting compost additives you can purchase.
- Water in the evening or early morning to better avoid evaporation and the water that is always hot due to the sun's rays. It is advisable to water deeply and often, but when the water supply is scarce, it is best to water deeply and from time to time, as this encourages deeper root growth in colder (and hopefully wetter) layers of soil.. Light and frequent watering promotes lush growth, but also contributes to shallower root growth, so the plant is less prepared to deal with partial or total water depletion on a hot day.
- Use a watering cone. This is simply an irrigation nozzle on a large plastic extension with a hose connector. These parts can be found cheaply in hardware and gardening stores. Since the mulch can sometimes compact into a tight layer that prevents access to water, using an irrigation cone you can run the water through the mulch and get it straight to the roots. This does not disturb the soil layers which should be replaced as much as possible, after watering, to maintain the soil ecology.
- In a time of heat stress, treatment with an algae extract liquid fertilizer often reduces heat stress and can help protect the plant in the future.
Step 3. Work on increasing the shadow
You can perhaps do this by using shade tents, with a tree cover (choosing more drought tolerant trees or palm trees) or with a short-term solution, using an old sheet or dust cloth during extreme weather events.
The catch is that these will make the plants less resistant to the sun, so a short-term solution should only be a short-term solution or permanent fixture. Short-term protection must be removed as soon as possible, because if the plant gets used to the shade, it will be under more stress when the shade is removed
Step 4. Act according to the type of plant you are growing
- As for plants, a short-term heat spike usually doesn't hurt them, although signs of heat shock and reduced growth can be seen over a long period. It may happen that some limp flowers recover when the temperature cools down in the evening. However, for long-term planning it is advisable to choose an area less exposed to the sun in which to plant your products. Vegetables can also change priorities and go from growing leaves or fruit to "going to seed". This means that herbs and green leafy vegetables will start blooming to produce seeds, rather than making edible products, which require more water than the plant can use. Some fruit plants, such as tomatoes, can produce a brief burst of small fruit, then fail again or die completely. In this way, the plant is saying that it does not consider current environmental conditions appropriate, so it produces for the next generation of plants, when the climate is most desirable.
- If you grow plants in pots or in small movable boxes, it is easier to move them to a more protected area. Buy generously sized saucers to put under pots (available at hardware stores), to fill them with water before you leave the house for the day. These can be a haven for mosquitoes, so take proper precautions.
- Lawns are difficult to maintain at high temperatures. Many hibernate or die, but recover or grow back when the weather is better. Longer but slower irrigation (which would deliver the same amount of water as a typical higher pressure nozzle over a short period) and the application of soil wetting agents are the best solutions for overexposed and restricted lawns of water. It is best to mow the lawn leaving the grass much taller, to give it a better chance to shade itself. Avoid using chemical fertilizers, as the heat will cause them to release a large mass of fertilizers that can cause the grass to burn. Any fertilizer should be a mild-based liquid solution, or a surface preparation to improve the soil (such as compost or good garden potting soil).
- Small bushes and especially flowering shrubs with delicate or soft green leaves can be hit harder, as their native environment prefers milder conditions. Aside from shading, soil improvement options and watering needs, these plants can benefit from very gentle pruning to encourage more leaf growth for shading; the water supply alone is kept up to their needs. Spraying these plants occasionally can protect them, as they absorb a lot of water through their leaves. Otherwise, consider transplanting them to a better area, or turning them into houseplants, if they are able to survive such a change.
Step 5. Try to group plants according to water needs, so those that need little water will stay together and those that need a lot of water will stay between them
This makes watering easier and helps plants form small ecosystems to protect each other.
Step 6. Increase the amount of windbreak
Wind is incredibly effective at drying out soil, plants, and mulch, so a live screen such as a hedge, or some form of fence is recommended. The ideal situation is one where the fence allows some air to flow, so you don't get hit by strong gusts of wind and eventually fall. A fence that allows some air movement as is recommended, such as a metal fence, gets very hot in the sun and can radiate heat to nearby plants. If air can circulate, the garden risks turning into a heat trap. If possible, shade the fence with a tree, or install a screen between the fence and the plants to block out the heat.
Step 7. If higher temperatures and less rainfall are expected in your area in the future, start replacing many of your plants that won't survive, no matter how much protection you can offer them
You can do this by donating plants that do not thrive to nurseries, to friends who live in cooler areas, or to botanical and zoological gardens if they have the environment and facilities for them. The lawn can be replaced slowly, gradually increasing the area of flower beds, or replacing it with synthetic grass. The quality of synthetic herbs has improved dramatically in recent years, so it's a useful substitute when installed correctly.
