Here are some tips from The Morton Arboretum’s Plant Clinic to help trees and garden plants survive waves of heat in the 90s and above.
1. Make sure plants have enough water. Water is necessary for all of a plant’s life processes. The only way plants can cool themselves is by allowing water to evaporate through pores in their leaves. In late summer, when vegetable and perennial plants have grown full, with many leaves, they use water faster than in early summer. Water must soak into the soil for plants to absorb it.
2. Check for soil moisture. Rather than watering on a set schedule, check the garden soil for moisture. This practice is better for the plants and helps conserve water. Since plants absorb water through their underground roots, the amount of water in the soil is what matters to them. Dig down a couple of inches, and if the soil feels dry, it’s time to water. Bear in mind that soil conditions may not be the same in all parts of a yard. Water each area deeply enough so the soil feels moist 3 to 4 inches below the surface.
3. Use proper watering techniques. Trees and plants can only absorb water through their roots. It’s important to apply water relatively slowly so they have time to absorb it. Soaker hoses, which are laid on the soil surface to slowly seep water, are more efficient than sprinklers, although a sprinkler can cover a wide area. Be aware that the spray from a sprinkler can be blocked or diverted by trees, shrubs or even the large leaves of some plants such as hostas. On a hot day, much of the water from a sprinkler’s spray will evaporate rather than soaking into the soil. When watering by hand with a hose nozzle or watering wand, direct the water toward the base of the plant, rather than the leaves.
4. Certain plants need more frequent watering. Containers, vegetable gardens and newly planted perennials may need watering every couple of days or even more often in hot weather.
5. Young trees need more help accessing water. It’s especially important to provide more water for young, newly planted trees, which don’t have many roots yet. Let the hose dribble slowly into the soil, moving it around to moisten the soil around the trunk. A good dose for a young tree a few feet tall is about 10 gallons—roughly the amount resulting from a hose running at medium pressure for five minutes.
6. Mature trees need watering too. Even mature trees need watering in hot, dry weather. If the hose won’t reach, pour several buckets of water slowly into the soil around the tree.
7. Mulch. A layer of mulch over the roots of plants helps in two ways: It insulates the soil against extremes of temperature, and it prevents moisture from evaporating. Mulch can be applied at any time. Make a layer 1 to 2 inches deep on perennial beds and 3 to 4 inches around trees and shrubs. Spread the mulch out evenly, rather than piling it up against the trunk or stems. Try to keep mulch clear of the bark of a tree or shrub.
More information about how to water trees and shrubs and keep plants healthy amid the excessive heat is available on the mortonarb.org website.
###
About The Morton Arboretum
The Morton Arboretum is a globally recognized leader in tree research and education. Its 1,700 acre site cares for 106,714 specimens representing 4,067 different kinds of plants. The Arboretum’s Center for Tree Science, Global Tree Conservation Program, Chicago Region Trees Initiative, and Center for Species Survival: Trees are contributing scientific knowledge and technical experience to secure the future of trees locally, nationally, and worldwide. Information about the Arboretum’s scientific work and how it contributes to a greener, healthier world where people and trees thrive together can be found at mortonarb.org.
RELATED ARTICLES . . .
City of Valparaiso Gives Tips on Lawn Watering Conservation
During this intense heat, lawns also struggle to thrive. Valparaiso City Services is reminding residents to water wisely and adopt smart irrigation practices that save water, save money and help grow healthier lawns. “Small changes in the way we water our lawns can make a big impact,” said Steve Poulos, Executive…
HBA Announces Annual Parade of Homes – Last 2 Weekends in September 2024!
This year’s Parade of Homes Tour will be a great way to tour Northwest Indiana homes without having to make an appointment. The tour includes 19 model homes open for viewing in Lake and Porter County, from 12-5 Saturday and Sunday September 21 & 22 and September 28 & 29. Cities where homes are located include:…
How To Enhance the Energy Efficiency of Your House
Welcome to the world of energy efficiency! If you’re looking to reduce your home’s energy consumption, save money on utility bills, and contribute to a healthier planet, then you’ve come to the right place. Improving your home’s energy efficiency is an environmentally responsible and smart financial decision. You can take many steps to enhance your house’s energy Continue Reading . . .
Preventative Maintenance Tips for Garage Door Owners
Owning real estate is always an investment, especially with adding to your investment. That simply means that the more you add to it, the more maintenance it will take to keep it up to working order. So, if you keep an annual or semi-annual routine in order, you should have no problem keeping it well managed. That’s why it’s always a good idea to have the best preventative maintenance tips for garage door owners on hand to keep things running smoothly. Continue Reading . . .
Read More Home Improvement Tips, Click here.
More Home Maintenance Articles:
• How to Best Maintain Your Home’s water Line
• Preventative Maintenance for Garage Doors
• Home Maintenance Skills Everyone Should Know
• Reasons Why your Asphalt Driveway is Cracking
• Things to Do Before Selling Your Home
• Causes of Leaky Basements
• Common Causes of Residential Flooding
• Save with Senior Home Modifications
• Household Problems You Should NEVER Fix Yourself
• 5 Big Home Maintenance Tasks You Should Do In the Spring
• Common Causes of AC Refrigerant Leaks
• Popular Types of Insulation Materials for Your Home
• Tips Every NEW Homeowner Should Know
• Surprising Benefits to Having Window Shutters
• Stunning Home Exterior Remodeling Ideas
• Affordable Home Improvement Ideas
• How To Maintain Your Garage Door Opener
Related Home Interior Stories:
• How To Increase your Living Space Outdoors
• Clever Tips To Make Your Gas Fireplace Look Natural
How to Make Your Home Look Bigger
• The Basics of Contemporary Interior Design
• Ways to De-Clutter & Decorate with Softness
Fresh Ways To Update Your Living Room For Spring
Update your Home Decor On a Budget
• Convert Your Basement to a Rec Room
• Increase Storage Space in Your Home
• Affordable Home Improvement Ideas
• Best Paint Colors for the Bathroom
• Ways To Add Personality to a Boring Room
• Different Types of Tiling For Your Home
• Tips For Your Home Theater
• Creative Ways To Decorate Your Hallway
• Tips for Creating a Stress-Free Space
• Get A Head Start on Spring Cleaning
• Coolest Basement Ideas of All Time
Children Helping Unload Boxes From Van On Family Moving In Day
Moving Related Articles:
• 8 Unique Ways to Improve Curb Appeal
3 Essential Packing Tips For A Smooth Move
• What To Expect When Moving for the First Time
• Helping A Friend Move Without Heavy Lifting
• Simple DIY Projects to Improve the Value of Your Home
• Ways to De-Clutter & Decorate with Softness
• Basic Components of Building a Home
• What to Consider When Building Your New Home
• Best Interior Renovations for Increasing Home Value
• Ways to De-Clutter & Decorate with Softness
• How to Make Your NEW House Feel Like “Home”
• Ways to Make Your Home Look Cleaner
• Why Families are Moving Out of the Cities
• Things to Do Before Selling Your Home
Discover More In-Depth Articles about Gardening Tips and Advice:
• Great Tips for Creating an Outdoor Living Area
• Spring Landscaping Tips to Free Up Time in the Summer
• 2020 Symposium
• What To Do About Brown Grass
• Moisture Induced Diseases affecting Plants and Landscaping
• Winter Gardening Tips from Purdue
• Protecting Your Garden from Cold Weather
• Top Gardening Tips for a Fruitful Season
• Visit Friendship Botanic Gardens in Michigan City
• Visit The Greenhouse in East Chicago with Working
Aquaponics System
Winter Home Improvement:
• Top Reasons Why your House is Always Cold
• How to Get Your Home Ready For Winter
• Where to Insulate Your Home
• How to Prevent Frozen Pipes
Susie Young Baxter, CEO, has published PanoramaNOW Magazine for 31 years. Her hobbies are Camping, Boating, Hiking, Nature, Gardening and Outdoor Activities. She is an Artist, Graphic Designer, an Avid Seamstress, Dabbles in Homemade Crafts and Landscaping. Since her Father was a Health Teacher, she also likes homeopathic Health Solutions. Since blogging started over 10 years ago, PanoramaNow has been added to Newsbreak – a national news affiliate.
