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Beat Summer’s Heat with Master Gardener Mike Sikes
Mike Sikes has spent 25+ years in the horticulture industry, and is known for freely sharing his knowledge and love of gardening. In addition, he is a graduate of the University of Georgia’s School of Horticulture, a Certified Master Gardener, a past President of the Georgia Nursery Association and Friends of the State Botanical Garden of Georgia and the 2005 recipient of the Georgia Green Industry Association’s Distinguished Professional of the Year Award.
As summer enters its dog days, many of our gardens are experiencing wilting heat and little rainfall. Don’t despair...you (and your plants) can make a few adjustments, and enter the fall well-hydrated and healthy.
Water early, water smart. There are several advantages to watering in the early morning hours (before sunrise). The cooler temperatures minimize evaporation. Then, the morning sun’s drying rays lessen the risk of fungal diseases. You don’t have to water every day, or even every other day. Once or twice a week should be sufficient, as long as you are prepared to give your plants a lengthy, deliberate watering. A soaker hose is ideal for beds of annuals and perennials. Hand water container plants. Lawn sprinklers work well for…lawns, of course.
Much more Mulch. Don’t overlook utilizing organic mulch. A 3 to 6 inch layer of compost, hardwood chips, pine bark or pine straw helps the ground retain moisture and maintain a more steady temperature. Plus, mulch keeps weeds at bay.
Contain your container. Place your container plant in a larger pot and fill in the area between the two pots with a layer of sand, pine bark mulch (or a combination of the two) to minimize evaporation. Also, while terra cotta is very popular, plastic or glazed containers are not as porous, so they’ll do a better job of keeping water from evaporating.
Cover yourself. Just because the dog days have arrived, you don’t have to suffer their full brunt when working in your garden: wear plenty of sunscreen, insect repellant and a nice wide-brimmed hat. Also, drink a generous amount of water.
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- The crape myrtle derives its name from the appearance and texture of its flower petals, which look and feel similar to crepe paper.
- Natural mosquito repellents include Thai lemon grass (which contains citronella), basil and catnip!
- Blueberries, cranberries and Concord grapes are the only major fruits native to North America.
- The oldest rose bush in the world grows on the wall of the Hildesheim Cathedral, in Hildesheim, Hanover, Germany. It is said to be over 1,000 years old
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Container Gardening Spotlight: The Thriller, the Filler and the Spiller
A container garden is a great opportunity to design something beautiful without investing a major amount of time and money. It’s also a project that can be fun for school-age children. Once you have a pot,
“container mix” potting soil, slow-release fertilizer and water retentive polymer crystals, it’s time to pick some plants…and remember to choose plants with similar sun/shade requirements.
Here’s a sun-loving Thriller/Filler/Spiller example. The “thriller” delivers the wow factor. Look for a vertical orientation and bold colors. A Raspberry Dazzle® CrapeMyrtle is perfect. Then, add a “filler”, such as variegated liriope, to take up space. A “spiller”, which hangs over the side, completes the container. Lantana fits the bill. The only limit to container gardening is your imagination. Happy gardening!
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