With sudden heatwaves becoming more of a common occurrence, it’s important to know how to care for your plants and flowers so they are ready to handle the heat.

Whether it’s your back garden, potted plants on your balcony or vegetables in your allotment, protecting and nurturing them during extreme heat is imperative to them surviving and flourishing.

Keep reading to learn how to spot the signs that your plant is heat stressed and how you can combat this!

SIGNS THAT YOUR PLANT IS HEAT STRESSED

Just like people, plants and flowers can struggle to cope with very high temperatures, especially for a prolonged period of time. After a while, they will start to develop and exhibit symptoms alerting you that they are heat-stressed and you need to take action.

• Wilting leaves or flowers

• Leaves curling or dropping

• Brown scorched petals or leaves

• Yellowing leaves

• Healthy blossoms falling off

• Bolting - plants flowering prematurely

• Decrease in production of fruit/vegetables

• Blossom end rot - often seen in tomatoes or squash

Water wisely

Your plants will lose water from their leaves at a much faster rate during hot weather so it is important that you give them an extra drink.

Time of day is key! Never water your plants in the middle of the day. During peak temperatures, your plants will be using all their energy to try and survive the heat rather than absorbing water.

Try to water them either early morning or when it has cooled down in the evening - this will ensure that less water is lost due to evaporation.

Even when temperatures are high, take care not to overwater your plants. When in doubt, check whether the top two inches of the soil is dry before proceeding.

Mulch around

Mulch is a key tool for your green spaces during dry or hot weather. Applying it on top of soil will help retain the moisture, prevent evaporation and keep the plants cooler.

As an added bonus, mulch also helps keep pesky weeds at bay, especially when fighting for water.

Hold off on the fertilizer

Just like us, plants only have a certain amount of energy. During hot weather, they will be using all their resources to withstand the temperatures rather than taking in fertilizer.

If you do decide to fertilize, it could:

• promote the plant to redirect energy to growth, rather than repair, causing the plant stress

• stay sat in the soil, potentially burning the plants

It’s best to wait until any extreme heat or sun has passed and when the plant has had time to repair and recover.

Think twice before pruning

Normally, pruning your plants of any damaged or deteriorating leaves would be encouraged - however in the heat, this can actually do more harm than good.

Already stressed from dehydration, your plants need all the help and support they can get. Often, foliage that is sunburnt, although it may not appear attractive, can actually help to protect the interior leaves and buds by providing some shade.

Also, pruning promotes new growth which will be much more vulnerable to heat. It’s best to wait until the weather returns to normal - you never know that leaf you thought was a goner might just rebound.

Shield with shade

It’s not just us that feel faint in the heat - plants feel it too!

If your plants are in any kind of container or pot they will be more susceptible to drying out than those in the ground. Be sure to move them to a shady part of your garden or home so they are more protected from any intense sunlight.

You can also provide temporary shade to your plant beds using a simple large cloth, towel or garden burlap - the darker the colour the better. Place this on top of your plants until the heatwave passes.

Want more tips on caring for your plants?

We hope incorporating some of these steps into your summer plant routine help your plants to stay healthy and lush when in hot weather.

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