Flower Power - Don't Let the Summer Be a Bummer in Central PA

This is the time of year in Central Pennsylvania we find plant leaves are wilting and failing to pollinate.

It is likely the problem is we are in smack in the middle of the “dog days of Summer.” Central Pennsylvania isn’t a stranger to summer temperatures in excess of 90 degrees.    In an average summer, we get about 25 days in that range. With global-warming, we are probably looking at a higher average as time goes along. We can’t A/C the yard, so what do we do to help our plants thrive and pollinate?

Like people, some plants take the heat much better than others.  Another option, like we REALTORS® know, is location!   Just about every yard has a different climate. It might be brutally hot in the middle of the back yard or on the west side of the stone walkway, but 10 degrees cooler in the front yard under the shade trees.  Consider location before digging that hole.

If we match a plant to its heat and light tolerance level, we have some control over making the plant thrive or, in the alternative - bake.    In order to keep plants as healthy as possible, it best to provide the plants with an ample amount of water and good rich, loose composted soil (rather than our common cakey clay soil).  By providing a better environment, like humans, this will enable them to deal with the stress of drought and the heat.  Bare soil in the sun can easily be 20 or more degrees hotter than the air temperature, and on 90-degree days, that’s very bad news for plant roots.

Personally, I’ve killed more struggling plants because of too much water than not enough, the roots rotted from being soaked daily.  The best way to gauge whether to water is simply stick your index finger into the ground. When you stick a finger down into the soil, it should feel lightly damp – like a damp sponge.

Most importantly, think about yourself in the hot weather, drink plenty of water and wear a hat.

 Don’t let the Summer be a bummer, stay cool.