By Jackie Sledge
Big Country Master Gardener Association
It’s hot. Very hot. It’s dry. Very dry. And it’s windy. All the time. The temperature in my car seems to be stuck on over 100 degrees, the air conditioner in the house runs almost nonstop day and night, and the feral cats are so hot that they’re stretched out on the porch to get out of the blazing sun. I’m seeing the beautiful green grass beginning to turn a little yellow and crunchy, and the flowers are getting droopy during the heat of the day. What can I do to help?
Tips on dealing with heat:
- Create shade for plants that are heat sensitive by building a frame with lumber over the bed. Cover the frame with wooden slats, window screens, plastic, fabric, or shade cloth to protect plants from the sun.
- Plant sun-loving plants to cast shadows over plants that need some shade every day. Some examples of taller plants are corn and sunflowers.
- Plant cultivars that are heat sensitive on the shady side of a building next to taller plants or shrubs, or under trees.
- Add 2 to 3 inches of organic mulch around the plants to keep the soil cool. Examples of organic mulch that are good to use are pine bark, wood chips, and shredded newspaper. Other types of mulches can make the soil hotter.
Be aware of hot areas such as walkways, patios, and driveways in the landscape because they can raise the temperature of the soil around them. Use heat-tolerant plants that won’t grow in other areas of the landscape in those “hot” areas.
Tips on dealing with dry weather conditions:
- Plan ahead for dry weather. Plants develop shallow root systems when they are watered frequently, and this makes them vulnerable to dry weather conditions. Instead, watering slowly, deeply, and less often encourages deep root growth and causes the plants to search for moisture in the soil.
- Use compost as an amendment to help the soil retain moisture so plants benefit from watering and rainfall.
Keep color in the landscape by planting drought-tolerant flowers that are either native or adapted native plants or Texas Superstars®. Examples of annuals are gerbera daisies, caladiums, coleus, periwinkles, sunflowers, portulaca, marigolds, and zinnias. Examples of drought-tolerant perennials are firebush, gold-star Esperanza, lantana, phlox, salvias, verbena, black-eyed Susans, coreopsis, primrose, and yarrow.
- Help the soil retain moisture by adding a 3-inch layer of mulch to the beds.
- Consider xeriscaping some areas in the landscape. Growing drought-tolerant plants that are full of color from flowers, foliage, and bark makes an attractive landscape that can survive during dry periods of time.
Use dishpan water to help plants survive during water restrictions. Be sure the detergent does not contain bleach, boron, or other toxic substances, and use it no more often than once per week to avoid soap buildup in the soil.
It is easy to see that some tasks can help with both problem areas – dealing with the heat and dealing with dry weather conditions. These are definitely tasks to tackle first to make improvements with both heat and drought.
Texas Home Landscaping lists these water-wise practices:
- Choose plants carefully. Select plants that require little water, thrive in the dry summer climate, and are available from local nurseries and garden centers.
- Group plants with similar water needs. Put plants that require the most water near the house where water sources are more accessible and put drought-tolerant plants farther away from the house.
- Mulch plantings. Adding a 2-inch to 3-inch layer of mulch reduces evaporation by keeping the soil cool and sheltering it from the wind.
- Create water-retaining basins. Make a soil mound around the plant’s drip line and use these to direct water to larger plants.
- Plant in the fall. New plants will have cooler weather during winter and spring to become acclimated before the heat of summer.
- Limit lawn size. Reduce the size of the lawn by adding beds, borders, and less thirsty leaves.
- Water in the morning. Water when the morning temperatures are lower, and wind is calmer to lessen loss to evaporation.
- Adjust watering to conditions. Water less during cool weather and turn off the automatic sprinkler timers during rainy periods.
- Install, monitor, and maintain an irrigation system. A drip system can conserve water, but remember to check and adjust the equipment regularly.
There is so much to do this month, but staying on top of the landscape ensures that you will have your plants to enjoy for years to come. In his book Lone Star Gardening, Neil Sperry describes July this way, “Much of this month will be spent mulching, watering and protecting your plants. This is when it really pays to have used Texas-tough plants in your landscape and garden. Check on them daily, and care for them regularly.”
BCMGA offers several education programs each month. There is a program at 6:00 p.m. on the 1st Tuesday of the month at the South Library Branch in the Mall of Abilene, and the same program is offered again at 10:00 a.m. on the 2nd Friday of the month at the Downtown Library. There is a Saturday Seminar on the last Saturday of the month at 9:00 a.m. at the Taylor County Extension Office Conference Room. Watch the BCMGA website and Facebook page for the topics and dates of these monthly programs.
If you have any questions, call the Taylor County Extension Office at 325-672-6048 or email us at mgardeners@yahoo.com. We hope you visit bcmgtx.org for information on all Big Country Master Gardener events, like us on BCMGA Facebook, and check out training presentations on BCMGA YouTube. We are here to help you.
