Not only do heat waves take a toll on our wellbeing, they can affect our backyards, too. Long stretches of heat in the 90s and 100s can scorch plants, dry out lawns, and leave us wondering if green things will ever exist again.
Here are ways to take care of your backyard, from gardens to grass, amidst extreme heat, so that it can see greener days ahead.
By keeping the lawn several inches tall, you provide more shade and lessen the stress on the plant from deep cuts from the mower. Set your mower for a higher grass height setting and trim less frequently.
While you may think fertilizer is always helpful, it’s actually a bad idea to fertilize your lawn during heat waves. Fertilizer can cause the already stressed plants to become damaged and burnt, according to SF Gate. Instead, keep your lawn fertilizer for the fall and spring.
One trick to get water deep down into the root structures of trees or plants is to place water-draining planters a few inches into the ground around your plants, according to the LA Times. A few times a week, fill those planters with water, which will then filter out and be absorbed deep in the soil.
If you have many plants — especially fruits or vegetables — growing in direct sunlight, set up structures to keep the sun’s rays out. Set up umbrellas or hang sun shades over the plants. Be sure to hang them carefully so that if a gust of wind comes, the shade doesn’t crash down upon the plants and ruin them further. You can find sun shades online or at your local home gardening store.
While some plants wither in the heat, others celebrate it. Add plants to your backyard that are heat and drought resistant, and bring color and life to your yard. For the Pacific Northwest, plants like Lavender Cotton, California Wild Lilac, Rock Rose, and Yarrow are great options. You can find more recommendations in the Oregonian.
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