Protecting Plants in Triple Digits

Having a garden during a heatwave can seem daunting to gardeners.

Not only does high heat mean more watering, but it also means plants are susceptible to sunburn, stress, and dropping of flowers.

Here in Zone 9b, we were lucky to have fairly mild temperatures so late in the year, up until now. A triple-digit heatwave is headed our way in matter of days. Yikes!

Fortunately, one can provide protection for their gardens or potted plants, even in record temperatures:

• Opt for shade cloth or an umbrella to avoid sunscald.

Shade cloth over our patio to protect our potted plants

One of the best ways to protect your plants during high temperatures is to shield direct sunlight from them at the hottest parts of the day.

Plants that are particularly delicate, prone to sunscald, and/or are smaller in size will especially be grateful for extra protection. After all, just like us, too much sun can be damaging, and high heat can be stressful.

Shade cloth hung over an uncovered porch, patio, or garden bed can provide indirect light to ensure your plants get sun exposure without the extra harsh rays.

An umbrella can also help do the trick and is easily mobile as the sun move throughout the day. Shade cloth-style umbrellas to allow filtered light are also available for purchase online or in-store.

• Mulch your garden.

To protect plants' roots from high heat or frost (in this case, high heat), mulching your garden can be a huge help.

When it comes to high heat, a good mulching—a thick layering of leaves, bark, grass clippings, straw, or other materials around a plant's base—can also help retain moisture to ensure plants' source of water doesn't evaporate before it has a chance to drink it.

It's a win-win situation: Your plants roots are protected, and you get to water less as your plants won't dry out as quickly.

• Water at the right times with the right amount.

Many have the misconception that watering plants just needs to be done at the hottest parts of the day.

However, watering at the beginning of the day is actually best before high heat as the plant has plenty of time to soak in water before it gets evaporated.

Of course, one's plants should be watered when they require, but it is a simple suggestion that watering earlier in the morning can help a plant stock up on water beforehand.

It is also not recommended watering later in the evening as plants can't adequately dry up, increasing risks of root rot, fungus, and growth of moss. However, if the plant is wilty, it is often safer to water it than to deprive it overnight.

Be *cautious* watering at the peak of the high temperatures; read the next bullet point for an explanation.

But, before I get onto the next point, the right amount of water is also crucial. Potted plants usually tend to need more water than plants in the ground.

Flooding your plant at its base with water can kill your plant by blocking its source of carbon dioxide, literally suffocating the plant. Flooding also puts a plant at risk for pests and diseases.

Watering too little, of course, may not reach the plant's roots at all, starving the plant of what it needs to survive.

The best guidelines to ensure you've watered enough and not too much include: Dark soil that does not look muddy, no puddles of water, and you should be able to stick your finger in the soil and see that it's moist and is making its way to the plant's roots.

• Avoid watering plants' leaves if they are in full sun.

You may have heard that watering plants' leaves helps cool the plant down, assisting them well through hot temperatures.

Sunscald on a tomato plant. Leaves turn white or silver-y

While this statement may be true, it is harmful for plants in full sun as it risks burning their leaves and skin of their fruit since the shininess of the water attracts the rays.

Plants in indirect light may be fine with their leaves being watered, but may suggest it is best not to overhead water in any extreme temperature. Some plants may not like the extra moisture of overhead watering.

Some advise overhead watering is always a no-go, but from my experience, as long as the plant is not in full sun or full shade, it isn't too cold or frosty, and any plants do not have a disease, plants can generally take on overhead watering with little to no problems, especially because plants are designed to take on rain, nature's form of overhead watering.

Though, one thing is for sure: Overhead watering can and will increase the chances of a plant being burned. If all or most of the leaves are burnt, the plant can no longer photosynthesis and will die.

Conclusion:

Summer is near, and so are triple digits.

Protecting your garden during these high temperatures can certainly be accomplished with shade, a little mulch, and the correct watering.

I wish you luck on your garden, whether they're in pots or in the ground!