Even if you have a green thumb, a stretch of unseasonable heat can leave your plants and flowers drooping and sickly. Northgate Greenhouses, a team of experienced gardening experts in Cincinnati, OH, offers some tips below to help you grow happy, healthy plants even when the temperatures are unseasonably warm.

Hot Weather Gardening Tips

1. Soak the Soil

When the days are long and hot, your plants, flowers, trees, and shrubs need to be watered fully rather than given a quick sip. Irrigate your greenery long enough so the water can soak deeply into the earth. The roots of your plants may reach several feet below the surface. For the best results, you should provide enough water to reach the root base.

2. Water in the Mornings or Evenings

During the heat of the day, plants are under stress and unable to intake moisture efficiently. Moreover, the hot sun can evaporate water before it ever reaches your plants' roots. Your best bet is to water during the cooler parts of the morning and evening. This avoids waste and delivers moisture to your greenery when plants are most able to take advantage of it. Additionally, some become more vulnerable to sunburn when they are wet, so it's safer to water them while the sun is low in the sky.

3. Create a Shade Wall

Create a shade wall of sun-loving plants to protect those that require less sunlight. For instance, plant cool-weather vegetables like cabbage and lettuce between taller crops that thrive in hot weather, such as cucumbers or climbing beans. If the heat caught you unprepared, you can instead drape garden fabric over your sensitive plants during the hottest parts of the day. It requires no support frame and offers considerable protection against the sun.

Northgate Greenhouses in Cincinnati, OH, can help you choose plants that will thrive in hot weather and suggest supplies that will support those that do not. Visit their website to view some of their summer plants, or call (513) 729-1134 to discuss your options with a friendly gardening expert.