Page 4 - Valley Home & Garden March 2019

eat waves are an inevitable method. It’s not just when but
Hpart of summer in many also how you water that can
places across the globe. While affect flowers during summer
heat waves. Aboveground
humans can escape indoors to lawns, but the NGA notes that HOWTOHELP
air conditioned rooms when heat sprinklers might be great for
waves hit full swing, flowers
planted around a property have such sprinklers can encourage
no such luxury, putting their the spread of disease on
survival in jeopardy whenever certain plants, including roses. flowers
the mercury rises to especially Many gardening professionals
steamy heights. recommend soaker hoses when
Wilted flowers that have watering flowers because they
succumbed to the summer sun promote deep watering that can WITHSTAND HEAT WAVES
are a sight many gardening help the plants withstand the
enthusiasts can recognize. But summer heat. If you must use
there are ways to keep flowers an overheard watering system,
safe and vibrant during periods set the timer so plants are
of extreme heat. watered in early in the morning enough moisture to withstand the can cause leaves to wilt as the
or evening. heat. Check these moisture levels plants try to protect themselves by
Water at the appropriate ■ Routinely check the soil more frequently during heat providing less surface area that can
times of day. The National moisture. Soil moisture can help waves than other times of year. be exposed to the sun. So long as
Gardening Association notes gardeners determine if their ■ Avoid overwatering. soil moisture levels are healthy, the
that it’s best to water in the flowers have enough water to Novice gardeners may be tempted flowers should be fine, even if their
early morning and evening withstand the heat. The NGA to water more frequently when leaves have wilted.
because less water will be lost to advises gardeners to dig a 12-inch they see wilted leaves on their No gardener wants to see
evaporation during these times deep wedge of soil from their flowers. But wilted leaves are not their flowers succumb to the
of day than during the afternoon, gardens to determine its moisture necessarily indicative of suffering summer heat. Fortunately, there
when temperatures tend to be at levels. If the top six inches of the plants. Plants release moisture to are many ways to help flowers
their hottest. soil is dry, water. If that area is protect themselves from excessive survive heat waves.
■ Choose the right watering still wet or moist, the plants have heat, and that release of moisture (Metro Creative Connection)

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