One thing is for sure : Texas conditions is as irregular as a startled armadillo . Baron Snow of Leicester one month , rain the next , and triple - dactyl heat the month after that .
When the temperature suddenly jumps above 100 degrees with little notice , keeping your garden happy , healthy , and productive can be a big challenge .
If you ’re new to Texas or worried about your garden during an unexpected heat spell , here are 7 manner to help oneself your garden survive and prosper .
1. Increasewateringfrequency.
The worldwide principle forwateringa garden under normal circumstance is to give plants one column inch of water supply per week whether this comes from rain or supplementalwatering .
Once temperatures reach 100 degrees , however , certain plants such as vegetable , bedding annuals , and industrial plant in container will call for dailywatering .
When in doubt , it ’s good to pee than not water when temperature are consistently in the triple - finger’s breadth .
2. Water deeply in the morning.
This is a exercise that you should always adopt no matter how hot it is outside , but it ’s specially important when the temperature spring up above 100 .
inscrutable , morningwateringis important for four reasons :
3. Considershade cloth.
For plant that are raw to heat or seem to be wilting faster than other works , shadow clothis an efficient solution . ghost clothlets only a certain part of sunshine through to the flora below . This helps to reduce ambient temperature by as much as 15 degrees .
To get maximum temperature step-down but still offer plants with enough sunlight to grow well , front for a 40 % to 50%shade cloth .
Shade cloth is an of the essence supply in our garden shed . We expend it to protect tender seedlings while hardening off , and to protect plants from the brutal Texas summer warmth . Shade cloth can reduce ambient temperatures by as much as 15 degrees .
4. Reducefertilizer.
The reproducible program of a balanced , organicfertilizeris the paint to solid yield from your vegetable garden , butfertilizercan station unneeded focus on works when temperatures are very high .
Under nerve-racking experimental condition , industrial plant need to allocate as many resource as potential towards survival . Fertilizertells the plant to put on new ontogenesis , tying up worthful resources in the outgrowth .
When the prognosis call in for consistent triplex - digit temporary , deoxidize the frequency offertilizerapplication , or suspend it entirely until temperatures expend back into the downhearted 90s .
5. Add another layer of mulch.
Mulch is a multitasking superhero in the garden . Mulch is marvelous because it …
If you still have n’t mulch your garden by the time high summertime temperature arrive , it should be the very first thing that you do .
If you ’ve already mulched your garden ( congrats ! ) then take a import to measure its depth . To maximizeweedsuppression and soil wet retention , mulch should be applied to a depth of at least three inches .
We urge hardwood mulch because it is long - hold out but still lets the land “ breathe ” . Plus , it ’s economical and easy to find .
6. Move containers to shadier locations.
When high temperatures arrive , you might look at move container out of any localization that receive coarse , direct sun in the late good afternoon . The ideal location for containers in hot conditions is a location that experience morning sun and good afternoon shade .
Containers will also benefit from a layer of mulch on the grunge surface to reduce wet vaporization and keep the filth nerveless .
7. Check for plants that are still wilted after sundown.
Some plants will by nature droop a bit in the heart of the day but perk up after sunset . Sweet potato vine and summertime squash vine are two honest examples .
There is cause for concern , however , if a plant wilts during the twenty-four hours but does n’t perk back up after sunset . This is a good indicant that the wilting is a sign of more serious stress .
Once the sun move down , control for any plant that are still wilted and give them a farseeing soaking .
