Heat wave in WNY: Protect your garden and yourself

mint water on Argyle in Buffalo NY
Drink plenty of fluids during the heat wave. Water flavored with sprigs of mint is lovely. Photo by Connie Oswald Stofko

by Connie Oswald Stofko

There’s a heat advisory for Western New York through Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.

(There might also be thunderstorms and damaging winds, so watch the forecast in your area.)

What do high temperatures mean for your garden–and for yourself?

Protect your garden in heat wave

Watering is a high priority for your garden during a heat wave.

High temperatures will quickly dry out the soil, so it’s important to keep watering your plants.

Which plants to water

It may be difficult to keep up with watering this week, so make sure you pay attention to the plants that are most important:

  • Trees and shrubs that have been planted in the last couple years. They will suffer the most if they’re not watered. You don’t want to lose these expensive plants.
  • Hanging baskets can dry out quickly. You’ll have to water them daily, maybe even multiple times a day.
  • Small containers dry out more quickly than larger containers, so you may have to water those little containers multiple times a day.
  • If you bought plants in small pots and haven’t repotted them into a larger pot yet, repot them promptly. It will save you time in watering, and it may save your plants.
  • Brand new lawns.

Plants that don’t need extra watering:

  • Most native plants.
  • Sedums.
  • Daylilies and other drought tolerant plants.
  • Lawns. Your lawn might look turn yellow or brown, but the grass will come back as soon as the temperature goes down and we get more rain.
hose slowly watering plant
When watering, set your hose on low and place the hose at the base of the plant. Photo by Connie Oswald Stofko

Get water to the roots

When you water your plant, the water must reach down through the soil to the roots.

If your plant’s root system goes down four inches into the soil, you have to get water down that far.

And if you have two inches of mulch on top of your soil, you have to get water through those two inches of mulch as well as through the four inches of soil. After you think you have watered enough, move some of the mulch away. You may be surprised to find that the water has seeped down through only some of the mulch and hasn’t reached the roots at all.

There’s a simple way to test if you have watered deeply enough. Just stick your finger into the soil to see if the soil is moist all the way down to the roots.

You should also water the soil around the root system. Dry soil around the roots acts like a sponge and will draw water away from the plant.

Don’t be fooled by rain. Even if you get some rain, was there enough rain to seep down all the way to the roots? You may still have to water.

How to water properly

Don’t try to rush watering.

Some people turn their hose on high, spray the plant from the top, then quickly move on to the next plant. The leaves get wet, but remember: it’s the roots we’re aiming for.

Instead, set your hose on low. Place the hose at the base of the plant for three to five minutes, then move the hose to the next plant. Check to see if the water has gone all the way down to the roots. If not, set the hose at the base of the plant again.

You can also attach a hose to your rain barrel and use it to water your plants. The water will come out in a gentle stream.

Soaker hoses are also good.

If you have many plants and can’t water them all in one day, just water as many as you can. It’s better to properly water one plant than to spray four plants that didn’t get moisture to their roots.

When to water

It’s best to water in the morning. It’s cooler in the morning, which minimizes evaporation, plus it’s more comfortable for you at that time of day. If you wait until the hot afternoon, the water will evaporate quickly and it’s uncomfortably hot for you. Normally you don’t water in the evening because wet leaves and cool air can allow fungus to form, but hot weather doesn’t favor fungal development.

incomplete garden path in Amherst NY copyright Connie Oswald Stofko
The path isn’t done, but we can complete it when the weather is cooler. Photo by Connie Oswald Stofko

Keep yourself safe in your garden

In the next few days, temperatures may be around 90 degrees Fahrenheit, and with humidity, it could feel like 100 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.

An air quality health advisory is in effect for our area as well. Because of ozone, the air is unhealthy for sensitive groups today, Tuesday, June 18.

When pollution levels are elevated, the New York State Department of Health recommends limiting strenuous outdoor physical activity. People who may be especially sensitive to elevated levels of pollutants include the very young and those with pre-existing respiratory problems such as asthma or heart disease. Those with symptoms should consider consulting their personal physician.

Here are some tips from the National Weather Service on keeping yourself safe in a heat wave:

  • Eliminate, reduce, or reschedule strenuous activities until the coolest time of the day.
  • Those particularly vulnerable to heat should stay in the coolest available place. These people include children, infants, older adults (especially those who have preexisting diseases, take certain medications, live alone or have limited mobility), those with chronic medical conditions, and pregnant women.
  • Minimize direct exposure to the sun. Sunburn reduces your body’s ability to dissipate heat.
  • Drink plenty of fluids even if you don’t feel thirsty. These include water (not very cold), non-alcoholic fluids and decaffeinated fluids. (If you are on a fluid-restrictive diet or have a problem with fluid retention, consult a physician before increasing consumption of fluids.) 
  • Do not take salt tablets unless specified by a physician.
  • Use air conditioners or spend time in air-conditioned locations such as malls and libraries.
  • Use portable electric fans to exhaust hot air from rooms or draw in cooler air.
  • Do not direct the flow of portable electric fans toward yourself when room temperature is hotter than 90 degrees. The dry, blowing air will dehydrate you faster, endangering your health.
  • Take a cool bath or shower.

Get more health information for this heat wave from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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