In Colorado, and especially the front-range it gets pretty hot in the summer with temperatures sometimes reaching 95°F and above with very little cloud coverage on most days. If you are not careful, your plants and trees can develop diseases or exacerbate mites or aphids and / or they can become stressed. All these scenarios could ultimately hurt or even destroy your garden. If you have have an established garden already or if you are planning a new garden with seasonal plants that do not like or love the heat, then the following tips can help you maintain a healthy and productive garden even through the hottest days, weeks and months.
Watering Recommendations:
For summer months, be sure that you change the seasonal sprinkler adjustment to at least 100%. We will remind you in the fall, when it is safe to drop it back down. Make sure that your sprinkler system is set up to create even moisture across your garden.
Mulching
Cover your garden with a thick mulch in order to protect from the sun and retain moisture and nutrients. Try mulching in the winter as well, in order to help protect against frost and the harsh cold. It is considered an insulator, retaining heat when it is cold, and staying cool when it’s hot. Try making your own mulch if you have the time. You can use rock, gravel, pebbles or other stones, rubber, leaves, grass clippings, pine needles, cardboard and/or newspaper or hay and straw as alternatives to the classic store-bought wood chips.
Weeding
It is important for you to remember to weed your garden. The benefits of weeding are twofold: a) it eliminates the competition for the moisture and nutrients that your flowers and vegetables really need during the hottest days of the year and b) It simply looks much nicer.
Providing Appropriate Shade
If your garden lacks natural shade from buildings, trees and bushes or other structures, you can get creative in order to shade your flowers, vegetables and other plants. Your shade element(s) should be a light color in order to reflect the sunlight (not absorb it) and should be placed 3 to 4 feet (or more) from the plants in order to allow for proper airflow. You can use sheets, window screens, other types of light cloth, or even plant some sunflowers. Check out this informative article on the types of shade you can provide at Easy Shade Garden.
If you have any questions about protecting your garden from extreme summer heat, or if you would like us to help you with your garden, please contact Bloem Landscaping here. Happy Planting!