Helping You and Your Plants Beat the Heat

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Anyone who’s ventured outside the past few weeks knows how hot it’s been. The temperature has hovered somewhere between a sauna and the surface of the sun. We have some tips for you to take care of your plants and yourself in hot weather.

For your plants: Water them. Water them deeply and at the cooler times of the day so the water doesn’t evaporate before it can infiltrate the soil. It sounds obvious, but don’t wait until you see that they’re stressed from the heat. In some cases, it may be too late. Hydrangeas are drama queens, so their leaves will droop at the mention of hot weather, but they’ll perk right back up after watering. Don’t spray water on the foliage. Like a magnifying glass, the water droplets amplify the sunlight and can burn the leaves of your plants. Keeping a layer of mulch in the beds will help to insulate the soil and retain moisture. Remember to keep the root flares uncovered! For your lawn, watch out for fungus in this heat. Keep your lawnmower blades sharp and cut the grass high, around 3″ tall. The taller grass will keep the soil cooler and deter weeds and the sharp blades will minimize damage to the blades of grass. Also, do not spray for weeds in the heat, you’ll burn your lawn.

For yourself: Drink water. Drink A LOT of water. Once you’re thirsty, you are already dehydrated. Stay away from soda, caffeine, alcoholic beverages and sugary juices. Wear light colored and lightweight clothing, sunscreen and bug spray. If your yard has trees, try to position yourself in the shade and move with it during the day. The earlier in the day, the better, but earlier and later in the day can mean mosquitoes as well as cooler temperatures. Mosquitoes love sweaty people and humid air, and if you’re susceptible to bites it doesn’t really matter what time of the day you’re out. Remember to get rid of standing water in your yard to keep breeding down.

If you’re concerned about your plants and/or lawn, call us at (631) 271-6460 or email us and we’ll come over and check them out for you.