Preparing your Garden for Summer's Heat

As spring draws to a close and I begin to accept that summer is truly on its way, I have a mix of emotions. I find spring to be exhilarating and there is such a sense of endless possibility! Maybe this year the tomato crop will be huge?! Maybe my apricots will ripen before they fall or get pecked by birds…..maybe I will get my act together and have the huge veggie garden that I always dream of……maybe this year I will plant my Anaheim chilies and make my first homemade chili rellenos!? Then the end of May and beginning of June starts creeping up and I realize that if I haven't started my tomato from seeds it is probably waaaayyy to late; if I haven't planted those new natives it is not a great time to do it; if I haven't thinned my apricots it might be too late and I feel like it might be another year where all of my dreams and plans might not come to fruition. Now don't get me wrong there are some great things about summer, like the long days …..and….well….this year it might not include summer trips or gatherings pool side and BBQ parties like it does in other years…but those long days are still going to be here and that means more time to garden right?!?!

So, I must remind myself that gardening is a journey and not a destination. Sure, those home ripened tomatoes are awesome, and chili rellenos are so delicious, but also spending everyday outside, whether it is for just a few min or a few hours is also its own reward. A time to sort out the day's woes, challenges and stresses. The spring is a wonderful time to be outside, cool and crisp, birds singing, full of color and leaves shining like new after a good spring rain. The summer seems kind of mehhhh…….we all know it will be hot….and more hot…and dry and more dry. The leaves will lose that fresh shine and the earth will be dry. It certainly does not seem as inviting and full of promise as spring does. Newly planted trees, natives and other plants will begin to need extra support to make it through our harsh summer, and it is often a time that newly (or well) established gardeners also struggle. Gardening seemed so much easier in the spring, the plants were a little more forgiving if they missed a scheduled water, six packs from the nursery could go a few days without wilting…..nature seemed to be on our side. With all those challenges of summer comes the temptation to throw in the trowel! But do not give up! Summer gardening is so important to having a good garden year-round and working outside in the summer has its rewards too!

Keeping your trees healthy throughout the summer will help them last for years and generations to come. I learned this the hard way with some of my older citrus trees last year, after losing them to insufficient and inconsistent watering. Proper and consistent water is so important, and something our Master Gardeners can help you out with. One of the most common garden questions we get is about watering, and this is even more important in the summer! There are several factors that go into the decision of how often to water, including what the soil type is, what type of plant it is, how well the plant is established and more, so don't be shy about reaching out to our Master Gardener helpline, or joining our online “Ask a Master Gardener” times and we can help you out with your individual watering needs.

So, what can you do to keep your garden healthy during the summer? Here is a short list of things that can make a world of difference in your garden:

· Apply 3 to 4 inches of mulch around your trees and plants, keeping it at least a few inches away from the trunk or stem, avoiding mulch that has been artificially dyed.

· Water properly and consistently: Keep you plants on a good watering schedule and keep up to speed on upcoming weather so that if a hot spell is coming so you can make sure they are well watered ahead of time (a farmers favorite conversation starter is going to be something about the weather, and there's a reason for that!).

· Ollas can be a fun and creative way to add extra moisture protection for your plants. There are a wide variety of olla styles and filling methods, so join us on our upcoming Olla making class to learn more.

· Shade cloth can be a great way to help protect your fruits and veggies from the hot afternoon sun, and you can set it up so that it only shades your plants from the sun at the hottest time of day, ensuring they are still getting enough sunlight to grow and produce fruits.

· Back to water: Setting up an irrigation system will be a big help in the summer, especially if you are working or away from home for much of the day. While hand watering can be fun in the spring and the fall it is not very efficient, often gets water on leaves that can lead to things like powdery mildew and more and is a lot less fun when it's a “do or die” activity for your plants. It is also hard to water trees and larger shrubs enough by hand before run off occurs, so an irrigation system is a great, water efficient way to go! Watering in the early morning is a good time to water to reduce evaporation and make sure your plants are not sitting overnight with moisture on the leaves.

· Native plants that have been planted this spring are probably not well enough established to be on their own this first summer, so they will need supplemental water this summer.

· Don't fertilize a dry plant, if your plant is dry (and therefore stressed) then you need to get it back on track with regular water before you fertilize.

· Don't forget to protect yourself in the summer garden too! Be mindful of sun, drink lots of water, and be sure to take breaks! There are often lots of chores that can be done in the shade or early in the morning so plan ahead and keep yourself healthy out there too!

One of the biggest things that helps me keep my garden going strong during the summer, is getting into my “summer garden frame of mind”……think like your plants…..observe how hot the soil temp is (mulch can help with that!); watch the sun and see what type of afternoon sun exposure they are getting,; observe the leaves of your trees and plants and look for signs of heat stress; get a trowel, or use your finger in pots, and dig down a bit to see how deep the water is soaking into your soil. Watch for weeks when there are big jumps in temperatures over a few days because that causes extra stress on your plants as well. Working outside when it's 85 degrees by 8am might seem like the last thing you would want to do, but when it was hot and I was feeling uggggghhhh my grandma would say go do something …work outside (not in the direct sun for too long, but maybe in the shade, or in the sun but well protected) or do some chores around the house. As usual she was right, when I worked outside some everyday in the summer I was just as hot as I would have been in the house sitting around complaining about how hot it was (partially because our home is over 100 years old and has no central heat or A/C) and when I was done I felt a sense of accomplishment and it helped take my mind off the heat. Now it might not be good for everyone to be working outside in the heat of the day, so be mindful of your own personal physical or medical issues, but if you can work outside in the shade, or early morning or later afternoon it can really help make your day feel more productive and that time outside, observing and tending to your garden can yield results that you can not only see in the summer, but year round because you have kept your garden and trees healthy and happy through the tough summer months.

With these tips and the help of our Master Gardeners you can have a garden that thrives even in the summer heat. We will be offering classes in June about protecting your garden from summer's heat, and on a wide variety of topics so check those out and as always, we are here to help, just a phone call, zoom click or email away!