Adding mulch to your garden is one of the best things you can do to protect plants from hot summer weather. A layer of mulch conserves moisture and keeps the area around the base of your plants cool. You don't need to get fancy with it: Shredded leaves, straw, and wood chips are all excellent options.
To protect plants from heat, consider adding mulch. A thick layer of mulch helps insulate the plant's roots from both heat and cold. It will also help keep the soil moist. If your garden is prone to extreme temperatures, strive for at least 4-6 inches of mulch in your garden.
Create Shade
Invest in shade netting or another tent-style covering for your plants. You can easily create your own, with stakes, frames and fabric you have around the house, or you can buy garden-specific tools. A hoop-and-cloth setup will give your plants room to breathe while keeping them cool throughout the day.
During extremely hot weather (daytime temperatures above 90F and nighttime temperatures above 70F), try to water daily or every other day. In a 10x10-foot garden, this would mean giving your plants 8 to 9 gallons of water each day.
During really hot weather, water your vegetables at least two to three times a week. Watering the garden deeply is critical. The water must go down, down, down to encourage deep roots and get away from the hot soil surface.
The best time to water plants is in the morning or evening.
More importantly, watering at these times actually helps the plant retain water. If you water in the afternoon, especially during summer, the heat and sun are at their peak and the plant's water will evaporate instead of absorbing into the soil and roots.
Apply mulch, preferably a reflective mulch such as dry grass clippings. The first line of defense against hot weather and the windy conditions that can dry surface soil is to apply a liberal layer of mulch around the plants. This protects the soil from direct sun exposure, keeping it moist at the surface.
To keep them cool, use old screens, lattice and sheets to shade vulnerable mature plants from the effects of mid-summer sun. Cover new seedlings with opaque covers to protect them from the sun until their roots are established. Commercial growers often use sprinkling to cool plants down.
Most plants suffer when the weather turns hot enough for a certain period of time. It causes irreversible damage by way of plant function or development. This isn't merely droopy leaves in the heat of the afternoon; it's things like stunted growth, leaf drop, leaf scald, failure to flower, or failure to produce seeds.
Some plants died and others were fried by the record-breaking temperatures. Even some that look extremely bad, like rhododendrons and hydrangeas, can bounce back. Burned leaves don't necessarily equal a dead plant, so patience and observation is needed.
Most plants grow best in temperatures ranging from 59°–86°F. When temperatures above 90°F are sustained for long periods, plant growth is slowed, and some plants begin to show signs of stress.
The best time to water your garden in summer is from 6 am to 10 am—before the heat of the day sets in, giving your plants plenty of time to drink up and any moisture on the leaves to dry off before nightfall. What is this? If watering in the morning isn't possible, the next best time is from 4 pm to 7 pm.
A shade cloth can be DIY, such as an old white sheet, floating row cover, window screen or a piece of lattice. It can also be a roll of lightly woven material purchased to shade your SFG. Whatever kind you use, it will reduce how much heat can reach your plants via sunlight.
Some of the water drawn up through the roots exits the plant through pores – or stomata—in its leaves, hence the sweating.As this ”sweat” evaporates, heat is removed from the air, providing a cooling effect. However, if there isn't enough water available or if relative humidity gets too high, the stomata close.
Keeping Planters Cool During The Heat Of Summer
Shading the roots helps to cool summer plants. Try shade cloth, mesh, scraps of window screening, or a carefully placed beach umbrella. Keep in mind that decks or patios facing south or west will be hotter during the summer than those facing north or east.
Most plants shut down during extreme heat, so if it is over 100 degrees, it may be best to wait to water even if your plant is stressed. Throw a damp sheet over it, or mist it lightly to bring the temperature down. Mist leaves with a spray nozzle to cool down plant and reduce transpiration.
Shade cloth is used to protect plants from too much heat from the sun. It is also used to improve the diffusion of light and provide ventilation for the plants. One of the important aspects to consider when selecting a shade cloth is the colour.
As the weather heats up and plants reach full size, you may need to water containers (and especially hanging baskets) twice a day.
The best time to water outdoor plants is in the morning when temperatures are usually cooler. This gives the plants time to absorb the water so they can get through a long, hot day. The second-best time is late in the afternoon or early in the evening. Try not to water at night.
Mulch, mulch, and mulch some more!
Cover your soil with a blanket of organic material such as straw, leaves, shredded paper or cardboard, or bark. This will moderate soil temperature, prevent runoff and evaporation, and hold moisture in the for longer periods between waterings.
The general answer is around 90 degrees F, with some exceptions to the rule. This means that when temps rise above 90 and remain there for a lengthy spell: Leaves wilt. Water evaporates into the atmosphere more quickly in high heat, draining a plant's reserves.
Avoid watering when temperatures are below 40°F or when sustained freezing temperatures are expected within 24 hours as this water will freeze and not be available to the plants.
Overly dry soil is a sure sign that plants will develop heat stress. Water is essential for plants to live. During a heat wave, correct watering is even more important. Early-morning or early-evening watering is the best time to provide moisture to all your plants in the garden or landscape.