Take steps to protect plants in summer heat

July 22, 2009

By Gary Pike Lake Oconee Breeze Wed Jul 22, 2009, 08:00 AM EDT

Summertime is the most popular time to take a family vacation. Quite often the landscape will suffer because there is no one to take care of it while the family is away. There are several ways you can protect the health of your yard because during the heat of summer, plants have a tendency to dry out more quickly.

Make sure your sprinkler system is adjusted properly and set to start in early morning. The reason to water early is that the water has more time to seep into the soil and roots before the heat comes and evaporates the moisture and watering early also reduces the chance of fungus infecting your grass and plants.

If you do not have a sprinkler system, purchase a water timer that runs on battery power. Again, you will want to set it to come on in early morning. You may need several timers depending on the number of areas that need watering. Test the sprinklers before you leave to make sure they are operating properly and are covering the areas that need water. To keep the lawn areas looking good during vacation, cut the grass a little higher than usual; this will help keep the soil from drying out too quickly. When you get back, cut the grass to its normal height.

It is also important to make sure the plants do not dry out while you are gone. Adding more mulch around plantings will help keep in moisture. Follow these suggestions and your landscaping should be protected while you enjoy your vacation.

Help prolong the life of your sprinklers by keeping them clear, since quite often dirt or grass clippings can get inside the gears or block the spray nozzles and in some cases cause rust. For your garden hose, repair areas that have holes or cuts in them. It is less expensive to repair them than to buy a new hose. There are many repair items available at a very reasonable price.

Happy gardening.

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