Preparing for the Heat Wave/TITLE> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html;CHARSET=iso-8859-1"> </HEAD> <BODY BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" LINK="#003100" VLINK="#A84C2E"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="style.css" type="text/css" /> <CENTER> <script language="Javascript"> </script><noscript><a href="http://media.fastclick.net/w/click.here?sid=4468&m=1&c=1" target="_blank"> <img src="http://media.fastclick.net/w/get.media?sid=4468&m=1&d=s&c=1&f=a&v=1.2 " width=468 height=60 border=1></a> </noscript>  <center> <p><img src="http://gardeninglaunchpad.com/iris.gif" align="bottom" border="0" height="84" width="366"> </center> <ul id="saturday"> <li><a href="http://gardeninglaunchpad.com">Home</a></li> <li><a href="http://gardeninglaunchpad.com/whatsnew.html"><b>Past Links</b></a></li> <li><a href="http://gardeninglaunchpad.com/retail.html"><b>Retail Links</b></a></li> <li><a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=rYavWG/bnC4&offerid=51252.10000243&type=3&subid=0" >Gardener's Supply </a><IMG border=0 width=1 height=1 src="http://ad.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/show?id=rYavWG/bnC4&bids=51252.10000243&type=3&subid=0" ></li> <li><a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=rYavWG/bnC4&offerid=3720&type=3&subid=0">Landscape USA</a><IMG border=0 width=1 height=1 src="http://ad.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/show?id=rYavWG/bnC4&bids=3720&type=3&subid=0" ></li> <li><a href="http://gardeninglaunchpad.blogspot.com/"><b>GLP Blog</b></a> </ul> <style type="text/css"> a:link {color: #003100} a:visited {color: #3CB371} a:hover {color:#C0C0C0} a:active {color: #0000FF} </style> <p> <script type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script></p> <body link="#003100"> <P><B>Skip Richter<BR> Preparing for the Heat Wave</B> </CENTER> <P>You just can't beat the wonderful weather and temperatures we've had this spring here in the South. In most areas a late frost never arrived to spoil the show and our plants are really growing great. Temperatures are so perfect that even the "fair weather" gardeners are staying busy and active in the garden. <P>Those of us who have spent more than a year in the South know that this glorious gardening season will be brief. Soon the full brunt of summer will arrive broiling everything in its path. <P>Now is the time to make preparations for the coming summer weather. Many annuals will decline and need to be replaced as things really heat up. However, our perennial flowers, vines, shrubs, and trees will have to live through the summer. Here are some things to do to help them out. <P>Proper watering is an important step in helping plants through the hot weather to come. Deep, infrequent soakings provide the plant a good supply of moisture, yet allow a drying out period to keep the soil well aerated. This encourages development of a deep, extensive root system -- important insurance for the summer -- and maybe drought-filled -- days ahead. <P>Mulching is the best insurance against dry conditions we can provide our plants, next to proper watering. About 2 to 3 inches of organic materials around bedding plants or up to 4 to 5 inches around trees and shrubs will keep the soil a bit cooler, improve infiltration of rain or irrigation, and slowly decompose to help build the soil tilth. <P>If you're planting new plants, make sure to place them in their preferred exposure: sun lovers in the sun and those wimpy specimens that need a break from the brunt of the summer sun in a bright shade or morning sun location. I have learned the hard way that you may get away with putting a marginal plant in full sun in spring, but when summer arrives it will be "toast"! <P>Our bedding plants are still producing blooms in profusion. It is important to keep them well fed now that the warm weather has pushed them into vigorous growth and blooming. Productive plants benefit most from rich soil and periodic feeding with a complete fertilizer. <P>Those houseplants that spent the winter in a protected indoor location need to go outdoors soon if they have not already. It's best to give them some time to get used to the outdoor climate and dramatically increased light intensities, rather than to just move them out abruptly. Begin by moving them outdoors to a very shady location for a few hours a day. Remember the shadiest outdoor location is probably much brighter that the brightest indoor location. See you next time! <P> </body>