Ways to Keep Your Plants Healthy in the Summer

The summer season has officially started in the Philippines. And the heat it brings can be quite brutal, with temperatures reaching 38.6 degrees Celsius last year. If you’re feeling stressed about the summer heat, so are the plants in your Elisa Homes yard. According to a 2020 report published in Frontiers in Plants Science, heat stress happens when ambient temperatures become hot enough to cause irreversible damage to plants. Symptoms of this include:

• Leaf rolling – Heat causes plants to lose moisture, causing their leaves to roll.
• Wilting – Lack of moisture can also cause the whole plant to wilt during the hotter hours of the day and regain its shape in the evening when it gets colder.
• Blossom and fruit drop – Plants in heat stress may drop buds and fruit to conserve their resources and survive. 

Heat stress can permanently damage your plants. Here’s how you can prevent it. 

Shade Sensitive Plants

Some plants find it hard to survive under the hot summer sun, like salad greens. It’s best to keep them in the shade. Transfer them under trees, next to tall fences, or even inside a shed. 

Wait Before Pruning

Pruning is a great way to help your trees and shrubs grow into a natural and healthy form. However, you may want to skip this activity during the summer. This is because heat stress can attract many wood-boring insects like beetles. Pruning only gives them free entrance into your tree.

Water Them Properly

As a rule of thumb, deep watering is always a good idea. Do it in the morning while it’s still relatively cold. Water wilted plants immediately to minimize damage. If you have shallow-rooted plants, water them more than you think, as they dry out more quickly than ones with deep roots. Water young plants more frequently compared to older ones. Their roots are still not adept at drawing moisture deep into the soil.

Use Mulch

Mulch is truly the gardener’s friend. It reduces weed growth by keeping light away from exposed soil. It also protects from erosion and compaction. It acts as insulation, keeping the ground cool during hot summer days. Mulch also reduces water loss, keeping the soil moist for longer. You can use compost, shredded leaves, and shredded wood as mulch. Use it to cover the exposed soil. A layer of two inches should be enough. 

Don’t Dry Out Indoor Plants

While your indoor plants are protected from the harsh sunlight, they can still get damaged. The dry, cold air from your air conditioner might cause your plants to lose moisture. Make sure to water them more frequently to ensure they stay hydrated. Use a humidifier to keep your plants from wilting due to the dry air. 

Summer takes a toll on all living things, plants included. You must give extra care to your garden to avoid issues like wilting, bud and fruit drop, and leaf rolling. These tips should help keep your plants healthy and vibrant during the warmest months of this year.