With the recent stretch of extreme heat, this is when you see stress even with the toughest of plant materials. You may notice floppy and flagging trees, shrubs, perennials etc., which is typically a sign of moisture and/or heat stress. Within your own landscape, you can take the necessary precautions when noticing these signs. See last year’s post on woody plant materials http://blog.bilowzassociates.com/2010/07/toughen-your-landscape.html when we were experiencing similar conditions. Understanding the dynamics of how weather extremes cause even the hardiest of plant materials to look a bit tired is important for keeping your cool when things get hot. Determine when and how much supplementary irrigation is necessary for your garden. If nature is not divvying it out, you may have to supplement the balance. Last week’s weather made even the Monarda (Bee Balm), a resilient, drought-tolerant plant look like a Bernzomatic torch had visited the garden party. As George Chapman reminds us, “Extremes, though contrary, have the like effects. Extreme heat kills, and so extreme cold:…” So when we experience these extreme hot weather conditions, soften the edges for your plants with a little TLC. And don’t forget the water to help with the flop and the flagging.
Image of a deciduous tree shedding excess foliage during the summer heat from the Internet
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