By this time of year, all a plant needs is a cool drink
TIE A HAMMOCK between two trees, pour yourself a tall iced tea and take some time off from gardening -- July is usually too hot to do much in the garden except water, and in hot interior areas, plants need lots of this precious stuff. Those confined in containers need the most, but even plants in the ground need frequent irrigations. Unless, of course, you were clever enough to plant mostly native and other non-thirsty Mediterranean-climate plants, though even they may need a deep soaking at some point.
Wise watering
Set sprinklers so they come on early in the morning, around 4 a.m., when there is plenty of water pressure but no wind to blow the mist out into the neighborhood.
Early irrigations also give plants plenty of time to dry before nightfall, which helps prevent disease and cuts down on damage caused by slugs and snails. If you are irrigating when it is still dark outside, occasionally turn on the system during the day to check for leaks and broken nozzles.
Spritz wilting plants
Sometimes plants simply can’t take up water fast enough on really hot days so they temporarily wilt. It’s OK to cool them off with a quick spritz, and they should perk up as the sun sets, but it might take them all night to take up enough moisture. Watering may actually make things worse by making the crown and root area too wet, which can encourage disease. Root rot diseases -- often brought on by too much water -- look exactly like lack of water. Always check the soil to make sure it is dry before watering. Irrigations should be deep and thorough, and as infrequent as possible. This encourages roots to go deep where they stay cool and where moisture does not quickly evaporate.
Container tips
Remember that plants in pots are as dependent upon you as a pet -- they need attention. This may mean watering once or even twice a day when it’s really hot. Let the water run out of the bottom of the pot, which helps keep harmful salts from accumulating. Frequent irrigations also will flush out nutrients so fertilize often to encourage growth, or once every other month to sustain mature plants. If you go on vacation or even leave for a day or two, make sure someone waters the potted plants. As insurance, try putting them in the shade while you are gone so they will not dry out as quickly.
Weed it or weep
Summer weeds produce gazillions of seeds, so be sure to keep on top of low spreading spurge and chickweed, as well as the ever-present oxalis that can fling seeds into other parts of the garden like little siege catapults. If they seed, they may overwhelm the garden next year. Pull out the roots or the weeds will be back.
Put weeds in a bucket so you don’t inadvertently spread seeds, then toss them in the trash, not the compost.
Summer color
You can plant even in summer, though success isn’t guaranteed as it usually is in late fall, winter or early spring.
For almost instant color look in nurseries for blooming ageratum, alyssum, amaranthus, calibrachoa, celosia, bedding dahlia, dusty miller, firetail (chenille plant), gaillardia, gazania, gloriosa daisy, iresine, lantana, lobelia, marigold, petunia, portulaca, salvia, verbena, vinca rosea (catharantus) and zinnia. In the shade try angel-wing and bedding begonias, coleus and mimulus.
Tomato troubles
Vines often stop producing fruit when the days and nights get too hot, but they will begin again as the weather cools. Watch for the green, knife-edged keelbacked treehopper. Their young look quite different -- black and spiny. Both suck juice from stems and neither can be crushed with bare fingers so wear gloves or dispatch them with soap sprays. Also watch for tomato hornworms. They can quickly defoliate stems. Because they’re green, they’re hard to see even though they may be several inches long, so watch for the black droppings. They must be handpicked, a tough job for the squeamish.
Don’t over water tomatoes; some gardeners near the coast don’t water them at all once they get going. Too much brings on disease, splits fruit or rots roots. When you do, water deeply, so it soaks several feet into the ground.
