How We Help Your Plants Survive The Heat

Like other organisms, plants are significantly affected by heat stress. When the weather suddenly shoots to temperatures above 85F over an extended period (like it does here in Texas most days), there is increased moisture loss. As a result, plant growth is slowed, and some vegetation shows outward signs of heat stress. With soaring summer temperatures, it is important to pay careful attention to plants and trees to ensure they are kept healthy and productive.

What are the Signs of Heat Stress in Plants?

Heat stress can take a serious toll on the health of your garden or property, usually manifested in the following ways:

Wilting – A typical indication of heat stress in plants is wilting. When plants or trees’ roots cannot supply sufficient moisture to the stems and leaves, they will begin to droop.

Leaf Rolling and Cupping: Several plant types commonly roll their leaves inward during hot temperatures to reduce the amount of leaf surface exposed to the heat.

Dry Leaf Edges: Further, heat stress can cause damage to the leaves, resulting in dried/ scorching edges. While this damage may be temporary, it could cause injury and leaf tissue death in some cases.

Sunscald/ Leaf Burn – When hot temperatures persist, leaves or fruit surfaces may appear burnt, dried out, or sunken in areas most exposed to the sun.

Leaf Drop: Some plants and trees shed some foliage to conserve water.

Catching these indications early will give you ample time to save your plants. So, monitor your plants and trees, and whenever in doubt, feel free to reach out to the experienced landscape professionals at EarthWorks to restore vitality in your gardens.

How to Reduce Heat Stress in Plants?

With adequate plant care in periods of extreme heat, we can help minimize the effects of heat stress on plants. Here are a few steps to minimize losses and help your plants recover.

Water in the Morning

The best time to water plants, especially during the hot season, is in the morning. Watering adequately early in the morning when the temperatures are cooler helps reduce evaporation loss as more water is absorbed into the soil. Irrigation systems are a great way to ensure proper watering to reduce heat stress.

Apply Mulching

Mulching helps lock extra moisture into the soil while slowing evaporation. Bark mulch, leaf mulch, straw, and other organic mulches are great mulching alternatives that allow for lower soil temperatures.

Incorporate Shading

Incorporating permanent shading structures, such as pergolas and shade sails, is a great way to cover heat intolerant and vulnerable plants like lettuces and other leafy greens. 

Avoid Pruning, Digging, or Moving Plants

The idea is to take as much stress off your plant as possible until cooler, wetter weather arrives. Pruning or transplanting forces the plant to consume the much-needed energy to put out new growth, or even worse, the root structure may be disturbed, leading to stunted growth.

How EarthWorks Can Help

With proper strategies and the expertise of EarthWorks, your commercial turf can beat the heat this summer and every summer. At EarthWorks, we understand that heat stress can be a severe problem, and we’re experts at preventing and treating plant heat stress to make local lawns and gardens look their best year-round. From installing irrigation systems to regular maintenance, our team can expertly and quickly respond to rapid weather changes to help prevent heat stress in your plants. A simple strategy to help your landscape thrive all year round is to incorporate xeriscaping by using plants that can withstand extreme temperatures with less water demand. We can help!

Get in Touch With Us

For more insights and excellent landscape design and maintenance services, contact us at 817-477-3910 to schedule an appointment.