Ways to Protect Your Garden in Harsh Heat

Summer is a season that is harsh for not only for humans but also for plants and crops. The scorching heat and dehydrate the plants that can lead to damage. Some plants even die due to excess heat and dehydration. Every gardener and farmer try to water their gardens and farms every day to save them from the summer heat.

However, watering alone is not enough. You need to provide the plants with shading to save them from the hot weather.

Also, it is essential to protect the roots with aeration and mulch for the survival of plants. Let us explore all such ways to protect a garden from the harsh summer heat.

Mulch

The importance of mulch can never be considered enough. Vigorously pressurize your pots with organic material to reduce the evaporation of water from the soil. Dried leaves, clean and dry sugarcane orchard, fist trimmings, rice straw, wood chips, coconut husk, and dried corn husks are some of the things you can use as mulch. Make sure the mulch is 2-3 inches thick so that no part of the soil is exposed to direct sunlight.

Water only when required

Do not water your plants just because it is a watering time. You can check the moisture in the soil by pushing it with your finger. If you feel its humidity, there is no need for watering as excess watering can rot the roots. Do not water your plants during the daytime as it can lead to rapid evaporation. Water in the morning or evening before nightfall.

Invest in an irrigation system

Even a well-established lawn will require watering during elevated temperatures. A simple sprinkler with mono pumps is easy to install. However, homeowners with a large garden should invest in a modern irrigation system to ensure efficient water distribution. Time is important; Morning and afternoon are the best times of the day to soak the water in the soil before the heat of the sun accelerates evaporation and perspiration. Consider an automatic irrigation system to keep plants safe from water during the holidays.

Improve the soil quality

Summer heat can affect the quality of your garden soil. An excellent way to enrich the soil is by adding organic matter. When planting the seeds or seedlings, add compost to increase your soil’s ability to retain moisture and water. It will also improve the transfer of nutrients to your plants.

Compost also promotes a healthy environment for microbes and other beneficial organisms like insects. Maintaining the soil quality also protects the roots from pests and diseases

Use organic compost or fertilizer

Test your plants dry with an organic fertilizer that contains algae extracts. Substances naturally found in marine algae such as mannitol are known to allow plants to better cope with the stress like conditions. Organic compost helps retain the moisture in the soil and, in turn, helps the plant survive.

Mow your lawn lightly

Adjust the mower blade to a higher setting to allow the grass stem to provide maximum shade for your soil. Resist the need to rake your lawn for a perfect finish, as clippings can also provide significant shade. And check the mower blade to give the lawn a clean, sharp cut.

Plant your garden in a shady area

If you live in a location that experiences summer for most time of the year, it is best to create your garden in a shady area. The shade can be from a wall, a building, or trees. Therefore, people living in tropical locations should consider the shade while creating the design of their garden.

Shade Covers

Shade covers made of lightweight fabric (like old sheets) will also help with cooling the plants struggling with the heat, though they should be kept several inches above the plants to retain heat. When using a cloth cover on the plants, tie or staple the corners with a wooden stake. You can probably buy shade fabric at your garden center, or a 6-by-12-foot piece that blocks 50 percent light.

Transplant next to larger plants

Because the implants are small, they are even more susceptible to death at high temperatures. If possible, wait until the warm summer months are over before moving them into the garden. If you take the transplant to the garden in very hot weather, be sure to place it in the shade of other large plants. This will contribute greatly to saving the transplants.

Plant shady trees

Trees with a large canopy, like mango trees and lemon trees, can provide a significant shade to your plants. You can see how grass and other plants grow in the apple orchards due to shade from the apple trees. Planting shady trees can offer your plants a good shade and protection from the summer heat in the coming years.

Transplant next to larger plants

Because the implants are small, they are even more susceptible to death at high temperatures. If possible, wait until the warm summer months are over before moving them into the garden. If you take the transplant to the garden in very hot weather, be sure to place it in the shade of other large plants. This will contribute greatly to saving the transplants.

Remove the weeds from your garden

Eliminating weeds eliminates the competition for moisture and limited nutrients in the soil. The summer heat dry out the soil quickly, making it stale and hard. Soil is the primary resource of nutrients from which plants grow; without it, there is no life! Let your flowers and vegetables take advantage of all they can get by reducing competition from weeds and unwanted vegetation.

Update about local weather

It’s easy. Check the weather in your area at least once a week. Knowing when there can be a heatwave will give you time to protect your garden, and you will end up saving all your hard work! Staying informed is the best way to protect and maintain a garden, be it a greenhorn or a green thumb.

Install a Weather System in your Garden

Having a weather station in your garden can be beneficial for improving your gardening efforts.

Final Words

Protecting your garden in summer is not difficult, but you need to know the requirement of plants. Keeping yourself updated about the weather and watering requirements of plants is the key to have a flourishing summer garden. Following the tips in this post can help homeowners maintain their garden and help their plants survive in the summer season.

About the Author Emily Bartels

Emily Bartels is a content writer at The irrigation Shop. She enjoys writing on various topics mainly associated with Home Improvement, Gardening, Technology and Gadgets. Her famous articles are on the topic of Home Improvement , Technology and many more.