We came home last night from Bill’s paving convention at Big Cedar in Branson, MO. On the whole, Missourians were pretty disgusted with their weather and kept apologizing because it was unseasonably hot.
I almost laughed, out loud even.
Missourians are nice folks and want you to be comfortable in their state. However, half my birth family is from Missouri, so I’ve spent a lot of summers up there visiting my granny. They may get more rain than we do, but it creates one hot and humid mamma jamma.
Bill’s paving convention was scheduled a week earlier this year in the hope things would be cooler. Mr. Sun and Ms. Jet Stream decided not to cooperate. Nevertheless, we had a wonderful time as always. How could we not? Big Cedar is one of those places where it is difficult to have a bad time. This was our sixth year. For us, it’s like coming home. We stay in a log cabin which overlooks the lake. The good stuff rarely changes, except they add a few more exciting things to enhance that “camp” feeling like this season’s Airstream trailer which served ice cream. It is a great place to take younger kids. Relaxing, great food, etc.
Oh, and they don’t pay me to say that. Instead, I pay them. (I crack myself up.)
As we drove southward, we noticed it was getting hotter and hotter (and less humid, thank you Jesus.) From 102F to 99F, take your pick, it’s not that different. Thank goodness for our nephew and niece. They watered the plants and generally kept an eye on things.
So, it’s June, and it feels like August. Well, crud. The best thing we can all do for our gardens is the following:
- If you haven’t mulched, do so. Pick something, cottonseed hulls, shredded pine bark (if it’s sustainable), shredded leaves, cocoa hulls (if you don’t have sweet doggies), etc. One to three inches is a good start. You will want to refresh in the fall.
- Containers will need daily watering. Water early in the morning, and run the hose a bit to make sure the water isn’t hot. You don’t want to boil your plants’ leaves. If you have agaves like these in the bottom of the photo, don’t water them hardly ever. They are used to a desert climate.
- If you live in town, and this heat continues, expect water restrictions soon. So, water wisely. Don’t run sprinkler systems in the middle of the day and set up a slow water system like soaker hoses or invest in a drip irrigation system. My garden would not be so robust if I didn’t have one.
- Resist buying 1/2 off plants because it is too hot to get them settled in. Just wait until September for perennials, trees and shrubs.
- If you have delicate flowers like daylilies and roses, go out and enjoy them before you go to work. Otherwise, they will be shadows of their former selves at day’s end.
- If you plan to weed, do it in the shade or in evening. Don’t forget some type of bug repellent for mosquitoes.
- Harvest fruit and veggies early. Also cut flowers in the morning and take them to work with you to enjoy. My friend, Laurie, takes daylily blooms with her to work and floats them in a bowl. Try it. It’s pretty.
- Watch out for insect damage on plant. Keep a spray nozzle handy to get rid of aphids and the like.
- Keep an eye out for diseases like blackspot on roses and powdery mildew on almost everything else.
- Leave that sugary drink inside and drink water while in the garden to keep from attracting wasps and other pollinators. They think you have nectar, and you don’t want to be stung while drinking out of a Coke can. Believe me, it happens.
I’m sure there’s more to write, but I need to make a grocery run. Like Mother Hubbard, my cupboards are bare. Ciao!
Your suggestion list is spot on. In the heat we have been having, I would second the recommendation about drinking anything but water. For the young people that work for me, I think the only time water enters their mouth is when they brush their teeth, so it is real hard to get them to put down the sodas and just drink water. Today it got up to 97, and the humidity was so thick it was like working in warm syrup.
Thanks Les. You know all about hot gardening too. I forgot to say “wear a hat.” That’s another one. It will keep you much, much cooler. I’m sorry they don’t want to drink water. It sustains me outside. So does iced tea (unsweetened.) Now, I do like a cold Coca-Cola when I’m finished. Yum.
HAHA! Timely post. .I had the afternoon off, and just came in from finishing up the mulching job!! I have been through about 60 bags this season! It makes all the difference in the world. I was interested to read the tip on daylilies. .I have wondered how to enjoy them from inside! Thanks!
Wow, Melanie! Sixty bags? I haven’t used that much. However, a lot of my mulch is from shredded leaves. They are free for me. I do like a bit of pine bark too though. Also, I guess, now that I think about it, I’ve used 20 bags of Back to Nature too. Yes, my friend has been sending me pictures of her daylilies floating in the bowls. She has some I don’t.
Good advice Dee. I’ll have to remember to bring a daylily or two to work. However, it seems many of them have decided they’re through blooming for the year, which seems earlier than it should be. Perhaps it’s this blasted heat and drought.
Jean, I’m sorry they’re already packing up their bags to go. I think it is your drought. They don’t mind heat, but they like water.
Hi Dee,
90 – 95 degrees and humid here on Long Island, morning and evening gardening only!
Great tips but I do have to confess I do a big purchase on Fourth of July, at a great local nursery that has a half off sale ( and their prices are good to begin with). Many gardeners line up 6:30 am for an 8am opening, when they open the gates and we all run in to grab things and put them in our red wagons!
A lot of fun! Like Supermarket sweep!
All of the plants have survived the hot weather planting, amazingly enough, but you’re right Sept is so much easier on them.
Stay cool1
glimpsesofglory-karen.blogspot.com/
Hey Karen, well, I truthfully buy some too, but I watch them like a good mother hen, and I don’t expect other people in the south to do that. Too much trouble and vacation time spells dead plants here. But, today, I went and bought a few things from Whispering Spring Nursery (not on sale, but still cheap) and Lowe’s (all on sale.) So, I broke my own rule. LOL.
Yep, this heat wave is trying to put a damper on our summer. UGH… Survival will be the thought of this season. Things are trying to grow and bloom though. Hopefully we will get a break from time to time in this weather. Love seeing the pretty gardens surrounding the cabin you stayed in. Try to stay cool.
Lisa, it’s definitely been a bad ‘ole year so far. Hope to get a break in the weather on Friday though.
You crack me up too!
(LOL) Lynde!
definitely getting too hot here too…90s and humid in June…geesh…lovely gardens in bloom Dee
Hey Donna, it’s too hot, too early. Hard on everything, but especially the vegetable garden. I need to plant beans, but find it’s difficult to make myself do it.
I’m still in the midst of getting my vegetable garden mulched, and hoping to get all the straw down by the end of tomorrow! Great list; I’m stingy with water, but I need to just make it a habit to stop in the garden when I return from dropping my son off at his sitter’s, and before settling in for work.
Amy, your plants will reward you if you give a drip or so for awhile. It doesn’t take much. My friend, Gail, calls it “zen watering.” She plans her day as she waters.
That’s a great list to keep in mind everywhere as it heats up. Not that it has here yet, but it’s coming I’m sure.
Oh yes, Leslie, it’s coming I’m afraid.
I love that daylily! I hope you and I both get a break from the heat soon.
I’m glad you like it. It’s an oldie goodie.
I am so glad you had a good relaxing time~Sitting by a body of water is often just what’s needed. I think I just prescribed my own tonic to this deep summer heat! Get thee to water. Hmm…that is a fine looking daylily. xxoogail
Gail, it was simply lovely as always. Good to rest up.
It’s hot like August here too, but by Thursday, it’ll be like September. Then I will absolutely have to get the rest of the plants into the ground. It might be my last chance.
I hope to have all of mine in the ground on Friday when we’re supposed to get a break. I may plant in the morning tomorrow though and just help them through.
I diffidently need a bullet list! Now I just need to get motivated.
Greggo, that’s the hardest part isn’t it?
Good advice for gardening where it is hot, which seems to be everywhere these days. It is hot like August here, too. I miss June weather!
Yes, who’d have thought it would be so hot so early all over the country (except California I guess.)