Anything I can do to help my flowers through the heat wave?

Discussion in 'Flower Gardening' started by jakrum421, Jun 26, 2012.

  1. jakrum421

    jakrum421 Seedling

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    We have a beautiful day today, but starting tomorrow, the mercury is going to shoot up with a high of 100F and beastly humidity on Thursday. I've just finished mulching all my flowers and watering them thoroughly, but is there anything special I can do to help them through this hot weather? The area that I garden in has full, relentless sun for most of the day (8:00am-7:00pm or so right now). I've heard both ways, but which is better, watering in the early morn or at dusk? BTW, we also haven't had any rain at all here for at least 2 weeks and none is predicted for at least another week. We may even have to postpone our Independence Day fireworks this year. TIA!
     
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  3. toni

    toni Mistress of Garden Junque Staff Member Moderator Plants Contributor

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    If your plants are native or well adapted to your area they should be fine. Maybe rig up some sort of shade cover to give them a respite during the hottest part of the afternoon. When the weather is like that you should be watering using the hose. Sprinklers shoot water up in the air and very little of it actually reaches the plants because of evaporation.

    I can only water two days a week so I try to water everything early morning and again late evening. Are you under any watering restrictions?
     
  4. jakrum421

    jakrum421 Seedling

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    No water restrictions yet

    Although some of our neighboring communities are starting them. And since my darn kids broke yet another sprinkler, I have been doing all of my watering with a hose. The flowers that I am most worried about are my gerberas and my pansies. You can just watch them droop when the temp goes up around here. And the nicotiana gets a little limp-looking too. Guess I'll just keep up with the watering until somebody tells me I can't anymore.
     
  5. cherylad

    cherylad Countess of Cute-ification Plants Contributor

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    I've always heard that it's best to water in the morning, that way the plants have some moisture to get them through the heat of the day.
    I'm just not able to water in the mornings during the work week. So I'm forced to do it in the evening time.... but come the weekend.... I'm out there were those hoses first thing.
    So water when you can! :stew2:
     
  6. koszta kid

    koszta kid Young Pine

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    I water in the am.And plants that I have just planted-put wooden shingles to shade and protect from wind. Ones that are mulched are doing better.Just got done putting wet newspaper and hay around veggy part. And put wood mulch around trees.Seen some tree dropping leafs -lack of rain here.
     

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