The summer months bring not only warmth and sunshine, but also serious challenges for gardeners. Exhausting heat, scorching sun and drought can cause great damage to growing crops, reduce the volume and quality of the harvest. But there are a few effective ways to help protect your plants from the negative effects of summer weather.
Watering is the key to saving your plants
The most important and priority measure during drought and high temperatures is regular and abundant watering. It helps to retain moisture in the soil and keep plants in optimum condition.
Water plants early in the morning or in the evening hours, when water evaporation is minimal. Try to moisten not only the top layer, but also the deep root zones. If possible, use a drip irrigation system – it will allow you to deliver water directly to the roots.
Shading will save you from the sun
The sun’s scorching rays can also cause serious damage to unprotected plantings. To avoid this, take care to provide shade for the most vulnerable crops.
Install shading shelters such as agro-fiber or awnings. You can also apply natural shade by planting fast-growing “nanny” plants nearby. This will protect your crop from sunburn and overheating.
Mulching will retain moisture
Another important technique is to mulch the soil around your plants. A mulch of organic materials (sawdust, straw, grass clippings) will help retain moisture in the soil and prevent it from evaporating quickly.
In addition, mulch protects the root system from overheating, saturates the soil with useful substances and suppresses the growth of weeds.
Application of foliage spray
For additional protection, use special moisturizing foliage sprays. They create a thin film on the surface of the leaves, which prevents intensive evaporation of moisture.
Such preparations help plants to bear the heat and keep fresh even on the hottest days.
These simple but effective methods will help your plants to survive the summer heat and enjoy a high quality harvest!
