Signs of Plant Heat Stress Recovery & Strategies to Protect Them

As summer temps soar, plants can take a beating. Heat stress is a condition that happens when temperatures are hot over an extended period of time. The perpetual daytime highs, combined with hot summer nights, can cause irreversible damage to your plants.

Fortunately, we are experts at preventing and treating plant heat stress recovery!

Signs of Plant Heat Stress

Heat stress can occur at temperatures as low as 85 degrees, so it’s important to pay careful attention to your plants as the summer sun heats up your area. If a plant is under stress for too long, it will drop its leaves to keep damage to a minimum and go dormant to save itself. However, if this happens several times throughout the summer, the plant can develop chronic heat stress. This can lead to stunted growth, which can lead to poor re-seeding and a lower quality crop for the next season.

Signs of heat stress include:

• Leaf wilt
• Leaf burn
• Plants that stop flowering
• Overly dry soil

If you see any of these signs, contact your Earthworks property care representative immediately for a professional assessment.

Preventative Strategies of Heat Stress

Like many treatment options in lawn care, prevention is the preferred course of action. The most important step you can take is to be intentional in your watering times. Always water early in the morning, before 10:00 a.m. Watering in the evening can leave plants susceptible to fungus and other insects overnight, ultimately doing more harm than good.

One simple strategy to prevent incorporate xeriscaping by using heartier plants that can withstand extreme temperatures and require less water. Another option is to incorporate permanent shading into your landscaping, such as pergolas and shade sails.

And, of course, don’t forget the importance of mulch! A good layer of mulch in plant beds and around tree rings will help to keep the soil – and your plants’ roots – cool and protected.

Treating Heat Stress Recovery

If preventative strategies aren’t working, or if your plants have already suffered heat stress, there are a few steps you can take to minimize losses and help plants recover:

• If your plants are in pots, move them indoors or to an area with shade
• Place temporary shading, such as shade cloth, over plants to keep them cool and block out the sun’s rays.
• Deep water plants first thing in the morning, if possible.
• Do not fertilize during times of heat stress. New growth is especially susceptible to the effects of heat.

Don’t let your landscaping investment shrivel up in the sun. Invest in preventative strategies before the temperatures climb, and keep a close eye on plants once the mercury climbs above 85. If you do see signs of heat stress, call your lawn care representative right away and discuss your treatment options.

With the right strategies – and the best landscaping company in Texas – you can have a healthy, vibrant landscape all summer long!