© Rebecca Sanabria / Lowe's / Review Plants that are constantly wet suffer. Let them tell you when they are ready.It's Memorial Day weekend and is considered by many to be the unofficial start of summer. In fact, spring is still three and a half weeks away. I like spring to last as long as possible. There is no need to go faster in summer.
When summer comes, our spring fever is gone. The joy of spring planting fades, and gardening sometimes becomes difficult and frustrating. This can happen because we need our plants to work all summer. Sitting is fun; service is work
Summer gardening rule #1: Don't drown your plants!
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Now I want to give you some tips to avoid the most common reasons why plants do not grow well in summer. Do not exaggerate.
We spend a lot of money on plants and want to do everything we can to keep them growing and thriving. Therefore, we think that we should be proactive when it comes to watering and worry that if the plants dry out, they will die.
Dig: how to tell if a frost-damaged plant will survive 🥀
Not this way. Plants that are constantly wet will suffer. Roots suck up air and water, and wet soil prevents plants from getting the oxygen they need. Allow the plant to dry out between waterings. Check daily by checking the soil or checking the weight of the pot.
You can also let plants tell you when they are thirsty. Let them start to dry. When you see it dry, water it. In an hour they will look fresh. After doing this a few times, you can set a schedule for how long it will take to dry.
It's not heat, it's humidity.
During the summer months, we are also challenged by insects that attack some of our crops. With our humidity, we also have problems with plant diseases. You should also keep in mind that most insects and diseases will not kill your plants. Insects can eat or suck the sap from the leaves, but most infestations are small enough that the damage is minor and the plant survives.
The same goes for plant diseases. Plant diseases, mainly fungi, devastate the foliage, but the plants survive again. Understand that if a plant is sick, the disease will not go away. You can use a fungicide to prevent the spread of the disease, but the infected leaves will remain the same.
If you have plants that are susceptible to disease, you should first spray them with a fungicide to prevent disease. Plant diseases most often manifest themselves as yellowing, the appearance of black spots on the leaves. This is typical of roses. Another powdery mildew, which is a white coating on the leaves. Chemical and natural fungicides can be used. Some good and safe natural fungicides are copper fungicide or neem oil.
Beware of insects!
For bugs, you should take the opposite approach. You don't want to pre-spray. Spray only when you see the most active and damaging insects on your plants. Most insects are beneficial to plants and the environment. There are very few cons. For this reason, you only want to spray insecticide when you have insect infestations. When spraying, you also have the option of using chemicals or natural alternatives.
You should also keep in mind that insect and plant diseases are primarily host dependent. This means that they will only affect one type of plant. If you have black spots on your roses, the disease will not infect your petunias.
If you suspect you have an insect problem or disease, you can take a leaf sample to a good garden center for proper diagnosis. They can also recommend products that will help your plants.
This article first appeared in the Cincinnati Enquirer: How to Avoid the No. 1 Excuse Plants Toil All Summer
