You’ve invested a lot of time and money into starting a home garden. Whether you have an in-ground or raised bed or container garden, the summer heat can take a toll on your crops. Here are 5 tips to help your garden survive summer.
Plant Crops That Like Hot Weather
It will be easier to help your garden survive summer when you grow plants that like full sun and hot temperatures. Some of the best plants to grow in your garden this summer include tomatoes, peppers, squash, green beans, and cucumbers. Get these plants established early before the weather gets too hot.
Use Mulch to Help Your Garden Survive Summer
A layer of mulch on top of the garden soil helps retain moisture and keeps weeds from taking over. While pulling weeds is a part of gardening, one method to keep them at bay is to place cardboard over the soil around your crops and then cover the cardboard with mulch. This will smother the weeds before they can grow.
Water in the Morning
Gardening in the summer takes a lot of water. On days that don’t predict rain, water your garden in the early morning so the soil absorbs the water before the hot sun evaporates it. If you are concerned about a high water bill, install a rain barrel that you can use to water the garden.
Provide Shade and Supports to Help Your Garden Survive Summer
Even sun-loving plants can get stressed by heat during the hottest days of summer. If you are having a brutally hot summer, consider investing in some portable umbrellas or sunshades for the garden. Another option is to plant sunflowers among the vegetables to provide some relief and help your garden survive summer.
Certain crops, like tomatoes and green beans, require supports to thrive. The fruit on tomatoes will get too heavy and cause the vines to droop and break, so support them with hoops. Beans need a trellis or teepee to climb up as they grow.
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