Gardening best practices for beating the heat

By Kathy Johnston
Henrico Master Gardener

The best way to garden during the hot days of summer is to lay flat bellied in the shady pachysandra, or at least that’s what my pup Olivia tells me.

Managing through the intense heat of summer requires a strategic approach for protection from heat stress, dehydration and sunscald. While laying with your bare belly on the cool ground is a good activity for Olivia, here are some better outdoor activities for you and your plants:

Water Wisely: The best time to water is between 4 a.m. and 10 a.m. If you don’t have a dog to help you rise early, drag yourself out of bed to avoid waiting to water too late in the day, making the effort less effective and increasing the chance for fungal disease.

Deep soaks, not surface watering, and using direct watering or soaker hoses gets the water just where needed at the base of the plants. Give them a good soaking so roots grow nice and deep — unlike a Corgi’s short little legs, which are incapable of depth.

Of course, follow state and county watering restrictions and guidelines as we experience drought conditions and adapt your watering accordingly. Direct watering, soaker hoses, rain barrels and watering on alternating days are good way to conserve water.

Much Mulch: Keep 2 to 3 inches of mulch in your beds to retain moisture and create a barrier for weeds. Keep it from direct contact on stems and trunks. Fresh mulch almost guarantees a Corgi “sploot.”

Shuffling and Shading: Potted plants on concrete patios can just bake in the hot sun. On hot days, move pots to morning sun and afternoon shade — you know, herd them!

If needed, use a shade cloth to lower the temperature. Shading by 30 percent to 50 percent can mean life or death for some vegetables when temperatures increase to the 90s and above. See, the royal treatment is for more than just Corgis!

So, there are some best practices for your gardening “dog days” of summer! While the Corgi recommendations are all my own, the plant care information comes from best practices of the Virginia Cooperative Extension with some great advice from Piedmont Master Gardeners. For guidance on horticultural practices and where to reach out for help, you can contact HMGA’s Horticulture Help Desk or call (804) 501-5160 with questions.