8 Tips For Protecting Your Plants From Heat of Summer Season

1. Apply mulch, preferably a reflective mulch such as dry grass clippings

2. Water your plants in the morning

3. Use irrigation hoses and soakers

4. If possible water your garden with stored rainwater.

Rainwater is a lot better for your plants than tap water because it contains all necessary natural minerals without any added chemicals

5. Use shade cloth or protective row covers.

Shade cloth offers partial and temporary protection from the sun for garden plants. ‘Shade factors’ refer to the degree of blocked sunlight, and can range from 25% – 90%. Sensitive plants like salad greens may require a 50 – 60% shade factor, while more heat tolerant plants like squash and beans may benefit from a 30% shade cloth.

6. Keep smaller plants within the cover of taller neighbors.

Adding mulch to your garden will keep the soil protected from direct sun exposure and, as a result, allow the soil to stay moist for longer.

7. Keep lawns at least three inches tall.

8. Protect new sprouts or seedlings from direct sun during summer

It’s best to water your garden in the early morning before the sun starts beating down. If you wait until midday or even early afternoon, most of the water will likely evaporate before it travels to the plants’ roots.