HELP YOUR PLANTS (AND YOURSELF) MANAGE THE HEAT

PNW summers are generally pretty moderate, which is why this place is such a great place to live, but in the last few years, we've seen an increase in major heat events.

Hot weather puts a lot of stress on plants, and in those conditions, plants tend to go into survival mode. You might see your leafy green and cool season vegetables immediately going to seed (bolting) or your tender young plants wilting, slowing down, and generally looking unhappy. Some of this is okay, plants are doing this to stay alive or produce offspring. That said, when you see an upper 80s or lower 90s forecast, you should do what you can to help your plants beat the heat.

Here's a checklist:

• Water - Water plants in the early morning or evening. Morning is preferred as watering in the evening can contribute to fungal issues. Younger plants typically have shallower, less established root systems, and may need more frequent watering. Containers don't retain water very well, so they may need to be watered more than once a day. See our article on watering for more tips. Click here for that article.
• Mulch - Apply mulch to your beds. This helps retain moisture and protects the plant roots from getting scorched.
• Shade - Give your garden some shade. Cover tender plants with shade cloth (use stakes so the cloth isn't directly on your plants). Use a patio umbrella to give your containers some shade. Or move the containers to a shady spot.
• Hold off on planting, replanting, pruning, fertilizing, etc until the weather cools a bit. The less stress on your plants the better.
• Hold off on mowing your lawn or fertilizing it. Watering every few days is a good idea though.
• If your home is not air conditioned, make sure your houseplants are not getting too dry. Also, humidity typically goes down when the temperature goes up, so you may want to turn on a humidifier, mist, or place humidity-loving plants on a tray or saucer filled with rocks with water on the bottom.
• Hydrate - Yourself as well as your plants. Take care of yourself and others!