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How to Water Your Garden Properly During a Heat Wave

It’s here—summer summer summertiiiime. Or should I say, it’s been here, as we’ve been feelin’ the heat for the past few weeks with seemingly no end in sight.

In this sweltering weather, keeping the garden cool and well-watered is key to helping plants survive. Even with drip irrigation installed in my yard, I find that I still need to supplement with hand watering during drought and heat spells.

Here are seven science-backed tips for keeping your plants healthy and hydrated in a heatwave, plus common watering myths that do your garden more harm than good.

Time your watering for the morning or late afternoon.

But all told, don’t worry if all you can do is a midday watering—any water is better than none at all, and the oft-repeated belief that watering on a hot sunny day will damage your plants is a gardening myth that’s been debunked by science.

Water well and water deeply.

Just like people, plants need thorough hydration during times of excess heat. This is especially true of outdoor container plants, as well as new plantings that haven’t yet established their roots.

Use drip irrigation or soaker hoses.

To make sure all your plants receive consistent moisture throughout the year, the best way to water them is with drip irrigation or soaker hoses. I put mine on an automatic timer with a rain sensor, so on days I forget or don’t have time to water, I’m not worrying about my plants wilting.

Promote high humidity.

Plants that like it humid, such as bananas, ferns, ginger, hibiscus, and elephant ears, should be misted frequently during periods of dry, hot weather. The “flower” or “soft wash” settings on the nozzle are perfect for delivering a delicate, uniform spray of water to these moisture-loving plants.

Shield heat-sensitive plants from excessive sun.

If your plants are in containers, move them to an area of the yard that’s partially shaded in the afternoon. Transplants that need to go in the ground sooner than later should be hardened off first, then planted in the garden where they get only dappled light or afternoon shade.

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