It’s official! The first half of 2012 was the hottest on record dating to 1895. Even the CEO of ExxonMobil has acknowledged global warming.

 

By Chris Cohan

 

It’s official! The first half of 2012 was the hottest on record dating to 1895. Even the CEO of ExxonMobil has acknowledged global warming.

 

The lush gardens of late June lost the first rounds of the bruising main bout to the heat wave. Perennial lower leaves turned into dry brown chips. Cobalt-blue hydrangea flowers wilted to pale drooping balls of what might have been.

 

Rosebay Rhododendrons typically fill the early July garden with dainty pale pink flowers. They began blooming on schedule to provide handsome background color in the garden for two long weeks. The heat and lack of moisture reduced their blooms to a pathetic few days. Scant time to stroll around the garden and appreciate these charming natives.

 

Even though the oppressive heat wave is past, you MUST water, water, and water some more. Like the nascent fireman bedded deep in your subconscious, grab a hose, and deliver relief to your plants. Get up early, grab a mug of coffee, and spend the time in deep watering mode.

 

The best time to water is early, so your plants obtain the maximum benefit. Watering should never be a quick spritz. Soak well and deep.

 

Stressed plants curtail flowering and are prone to insect and disease infestation. Regular fertilizing is necessary to build back strength to your stressed plants. Liquid fertilizer replenishes lost nutrients, similar to Gatorade for exhausted athletes. Follow with a monthly top dressing of a slow-acting fertilizer like Plant-tone to keep your plants healthy and strong and build up their immune system. Cultivate in and follow with watering.

 

Mulching is vital to maintain healthy plants. Mulch retains moisture, reduces weeds and provides your planting beds with a finished look. Add two inches, minimum, to all plants.

 

Avoid overhead watering and never at night. If the foliage is wet over-night, poor flower quality and disease problems will result. Remember early morning watering is best. It is tough to overwater in the heat of summer. 

 

If you are watering container plants, make sure you fill the container to the rim with water. On a hot summer day hanging baskets may need double and triple watering. When watering newly installed plants, the root system is confined close to the stem, so water close to the stem. It takes newly planted trees and shrubs at least three years to become established and during this time they especially need to be pampered. Double and triple watering may be necessary on hilly dry locations or on scorching summer days.

 

Plants in full sun require more water than those in shade. Remove spent flowers. Keep your plants vigorous so that they do not heat stall. Prune back lightly if they do. Annuals planted in the ground and mulched don’t need to be watered as frequently. When mulched, they require a minimum amount of care.  

 

As my mom always says: cut your grass high and it shall do well. Use a mulching mower to leave clippings in situ. Water your lawn deeply to six inches and less frequently to stimulate deep and extensive root system. There are some native grasses with roots that venture to over 20 feet deep — interesting factoid that may come in handy when you make it to “Jeopardy”.

 

The bruising main bout of summer has many rounds. The challenger heat wave won the first few rounds, but the heavyweight garden champs shall prevail if their trainers water early and often.