How To Keep Your Home Garden Safe From Florida Heat 2022
The heat and humidity in Florida is notoriously brutal. The stifling summer heat can be tough on your garden or landscape. In turn, you will have to show some extra care to your Florida garden so you can keep your plants alive and thriving. When the weather is hot and humid, it puts a lot of stress on your plants. Even in the hottest and most humid months of the year, you can keep your plants healthy. Read on for Park Ave Magazine’s guide to keeping your home garden safe from Florida heat 2022.
The Signs That Plants Are Distressed
Hot and humid climates puts stress on plants. Some of this stress includes excessive heat, not enough water, too much wind, and a lack of mulch. Every plant will have its own reaction to weather conditions. It depends on the species of plants. Plants can be saved from heat-related issues to a certain extent. Keep an eye out on possibly distressed plants by looking out for the following signs:
- Leaves that are wilting
- Browning leaves
- Spotting of foliage
- Premature leaf drop
- Dry soil/dry root zone
- Watering in the early morning
NOTE: Both browning and leaf drop are signs of stress. However, this doesn’t mean that a plant is dead. If the branches and stems still bend without snapping, you can still recover the plant.
Caring For Plants In Hot Weather
These tips will assist you with plant recovery. Additionally, it will also help prevent stress from occurring in the first place:
- Watering
- Mulching
- Breaks From The Wind and Sun
- Good Soil
- Plant Seeds Slightly Deeper
Watering
A lack of moisture is one of the biggest threats to plants. It is also a struggle for gardeners in the summer. Make sure you are watering your garden constantly and create a watering schedule. Make sure you are watering your garden constantly. Additionally, you should be watering at a strategic time of day. Early morning or late evening are some of the best times to water because the sun has not set yet. Watering while the sun is still out causes evaporation.
Mulching
Mulch is essential to any garden. It cools soil temperatures, and maintains moisture in the soil. You can get mulch in a variety of types – from cocoa brown much, light brown and gold mulch and pine bark. Mulch also reduces maintenance chores. This is because it saves water by retaining water and reducing evaporation and encourages plant growth. Since it retains water, you won’t have to water as much.
Good Soil
Like mulch, getting quality soil is going to ensure that your plants survive. Make sure your soil is well-nourished, and healthy. This will ensure that your plants stay healthy and disease-free. It will also ensure that your plants can survive the hot weather in Florida.
Wind and Sun Breaks
Both wind and sun are very harsh for plants. When the sun is at its strongest, make sure to shade your plants. This will add much-needed relief. Likewise, make sure to protect your plants against the harsh wind. There are a range of options you can choose from – shade cloth, row covers and umbrellas.
Plant Seeds Slightly Deeper
If you are located in a warm climate like Florida, plant seeds a little deeper than is the norm for that plant. High temperatures and direct sunlight dehydrate topsoil. Planting a seed a few extra inches deeper will allow the root systems to avoid being choked and dried out.
More Ways To Beat The Heat and Protect Your Florida Garden
Even in the spring and fall, it is still very hot and muggy in Central Florida. You’re going to want to protect your plants as much as possible from the heat.
- If you have new plants, place an umbrella over them in order to provide a bit of shade for a couple of days.
- Avoid fungus by not watering your zinnias, black-eyed susans, basil or other plants that are susceptible to fungus.
- Garden earlier in the morning – the earlier, the better. By 11 am, the sun will start beating down on you!
- Wear SPF while you are in the garden to avoid sunburns. Sunscreen should be reapplied once every 80 minutes or so.
- Protect the water by ensuring that grass clipppings and yard debris does not blow into storm drains. This pollutes lakes, rivers, ponds, and our springs.
Watering In The Early Morning
Like humans, plants also need water in the morning. That is why the early morning is the best time to water plants. Heatwaves during the day will pull moisture right out of the soil and dehydrate shallow roots. Additionally, when you water in the early morning, it ensures that the roots are amply hydrated before the hottest part of the day begins. Additionally, it prevents heat stress, which is also known as a sunburn for plants. You can always go for a second watering for the day if one doesn’t seem to be enough. Remember, you are at the mercy of the sun, so avoid strenuous outdoor work in the middle of the day.
Keep Your Central Florida Garden Maintained
When maintained, Florida gardens can boast some of the most stunning types of plants. A beautiful garden will also add “curb appeal” and some much-needed TLC to your home. Continue to read Park Ave Magazine for more home and garden tips.
