Sticky. Sticky. Sticky. When the temps soar into the 90s, my garden game plan changes. I set my alarm a little earlier to water newly planted plants or those suffering in the heat. Thank you, rain barrel. I water early so the leaves don’t go to sleep wet at night, a red banner invitation for fungal issues. I’ve snaked a soaker hose through my boxwoods, shallow-rooted plants that stress out in drought. So I turn on the water and set a timer to give them a good weekly deep soak. As I’m on my watering rounds, I look for interlopers. In the cool of the morning, my trusty trowel and I are rogueing out sneaky chameleon plant and other weeds.
Photo credit: Annie Lemarie
Photo credit: Kristen Bell
Where, where, where did that dogbane come from? I really thought I had it all. A sneaky mimic of young common milkweed, I sometimes miss it. “Off with its head,” I say with glee. I’m a “while I’m here” gardener. So if I see ground ivy lurking at the base of boxwood, I nab it. The same goes for vinca resprouts in my woodland bed. Begone!
If I notice tomato leaves touching my straw and newspaper mulch, I snip them off. Rain can splash fungal spores from the soil onto leaves which is why most tomato troubles start from the bottom up. I cut off the lower branches of my tomato plants a month ago, but I try to stay vigilant with a trim here and there. It’s amazing what you can get done in a half hour in the garden. Even 15 minutes. And it’s oh-so-much more pleasant in the cool of the morning.
Photo credit: Gerald Holmes, Strawberry Center, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Bugwood.org
When the heat drives me indoors, I catch up on my garden journal. A binder with a page for each plant, it’s my garden diary. I note care basics when I add new plants, and add updates and photos as the seasons pass. I also update my garden maps, rough diagrams of my beds. Maps help me find plants in my densely planted beds and see opportunities to add new plants. As I look out my window, I see a lot of green, but few flowers in a native plant bed. I’m happy with the contrasting forms and textures, but there’s just not enough color. So I’m making a note to add more late June-July blooms.
Today’s high heat also inspired me to organize all the garden stuff in my sun porch. I tend to drop and go as I come and go and it’s looking a little rough. So, I’ve organized my pots and tags, tools and twine in my repurposed cabinet and storage bench. So that’s where that was!
I hope I’ve given you a few ideas for keeping your green thumb—and your plants—happy as we enter the heat of summer.
By Annette Cormany, Principal Agent Associate and Master Gardener Coordinator, Washington County, University of Maryland Extension. This article was previously published by Herald-Mail Media. Read more by Annette.
Hi Annette, this article “it’s too darn hot:” is another prize for all of us. I totally enjoy your humor & learn so much with your clear & uncomplicated explanations. Thank you from the bottom of my glass of ice water.
Noreen Krispin, AACty MG 2006
I glad to know I’m not the only one dealing with the horrible Chameleon plant!
I always look forward to reading Maryland Grows newletter.
It is too darn hot! I am always trying to factor in shade crops like lambsquarters and bolted Kale that can insulate June baby seedlings before being composted/eaten/harvested for seed. When the heat wave rolls around, gardens moves from planting to rest, protection, and reflection. Thanks for this helpful post. It is good to remember to slow down, even in the middle of the growing season. With climate change, we will need to consider mid-summer as a dormant time for certain crops.