Sunset – July 2019

7 SUMMER-HEAT TIPS & STRATEGIES

Summer brings heat to the West, but that doesn’t mean you or your gar-

den have to suffer. There are ways to help your plants thrive even when

the temperature soars. Use these strategies to keep you happy and your

plants well watered, well fed, and ready to survive the summer months.

ByTHAD ORR

5. PLANT IN GROUPS
   Before your next trip
   to the garden center,
   walk around your
   garden to look for
   spots where you can
   fit in larger blocks of
   plants. When you in-
   evitably fall in love
   with a plant at the
   nursery buy 5, 7, or
   10 plants of the
   same variety. This
   creates a more cohe-
   sive look, and plants
   spaced closely to-
   gether help retain
   moisture in the soil.


6. WATER WISELY
   Irrigation vessels
   such as terra-cotta
   urns are handy for
   watering raised beds
   that have plants with
   fibrous roots (beans,
   tomatoes, eggplant,
   peppers, and more).
   Bury vessels, such as
   an Oya ($25; grow
   oya.com), in one of
   your beds, fill it with
   water, and refill it
   every few days. They
   are also a great wa-
   tering solution while
   you’re on vacation.


7. USE COMPOST TEAS
   Compost teas help
   keep plants nutrient-
   rich through summer.
   Companies such as
   Malibu Compost sell
   packets that make up
   to 20 gallons of com-
   post tea. Try their
   Bu’s Brew Biodynam-
   ic Compost Tea
   ($13; malibucom
   post.com).


8. INVEST IN SOIL
   If soil conditions
   aren’t right, plants
   won’t grow to their
   full potential. Amend-
   ing may require a
   soil test, which can
   be done through
   your garden center
   or a company such
   as AgSource Labora-
   tories (agsourcelab
   oratories.com). Prop-
   er nutrient levels will
   help plants survive if
   they become weath-
   er fatigued.


9. ADD SOUND
   Think about adding a
   water feature, such
   as a fountain, on a
   patio or outside a
   window where the
   gentle gurgles can
   be enjoyed from in-
   side your home too.
   The Girona Fountain
   by Campania Inter-
   national ($615; cam
   paniainternational.
   com) is a solid choice
   for a freestanding
   fountain. Even a soft
   trickling sound can
   make your garden
   feel cooler.


10. WATCH YOUR
    POTS
    Plants in containers
    really feel the heat
    when temperatures
    rise—and the soil in
    containers will also
    dry out more quickly.
    Keep your containers
    well watered (often
    daily). It’s also a
    good idea to add a
    dose of slow-release
    fertilizer to the soil
    (note that woody
    plants are usually
    heavy feeders).


11. CARE FOR NEW
    ROOTS
    When you plant a
    new tree, the roots
    go through a lot of
    stress. Until the roots
    are established, wa-
    tering rings such as
    a Treegator ($22;
    treegator.com) can
    help ease the transi-
    tion period. The wa-
    tering ring slowly
    releases water into
    the soil over the root-
    ball and reduces run-
    off from overwatering.

HOME & GARDEN

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