With fall just around the corner, it's easy to forget about your garden you've been tending to all summer long. And while you may be thinking it's not even worth it to keep your garden thriving for the fall, it's actually easier than you may think!
07.08.2024 - 13:48 / finegardening.com
The plants recommended in this article are very heat tolerant, but even the best-adapted plants need a little extra care when extreme heat strikes. Since heat can stress plants, and stress can lead to further problems, reducing that stress is paramount. Here are some ways to keep plants thriving through very high temperatures.
Just like us, plants need extra water when the temperature rises. Give plants a long, deep drink, wetting the soil at least 6 inches deep. Check soil moisture regularly and watch for signs of water stress, such as wilting leaves. Consider using a soil moisture meter to accurately assess moisture levels.
Mulch around plants to conserve water in the soil and to moderate soil temperatures. Use organic mulch such as leaves, wood chips, cocoa hulls, straw, or compost. These types of mulch decompose slowly and release nutrients into the soil while improving the soil structure.
Hanging baskets and containers dry out quickly. Check on the moisture of the soil twice a day during a heat wave, and water as needed. Water until liquid runs out of the drainage holes at the bottom. This helps to ensure you’ve reached the entire root system.
Soil temperatures can also soar in containers. Move pots to the shade or use a shade cloth to help cool the soil. Sensitive plants in the ground can also benefit from shade cloth. Be sure to support the cloth above plants, avoiding contact with the foliage, which can cause leaf burn.
Heat stress slows photosynthesis and plant growth. Fertilizing during periods of stress not only is wasteful but can also lead to root burn. Resume regular fertilization when temperatures drop.
While it may be tempting to remove wilting tomato leaves and other unsightly foliage, those leaves are
With fall just around the corner, it's easy to forget about your garden you've been tending to all summer long. And while you may be thinking it's not even worth it to keep your garden thriving for the fall, it's actually easier than you may think!
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If you’re a fan of the quintessential indoor-outdoor Western lifestyle that comes along with expansive floor-to-ceiling glass, a warm wash of natural light, breezeways that maximize airflow, and surrounding serene landscape, you can thank famed architect Cliff May. Regarded as the founding father of the iconic California ranch house, May’s work has been repeatedly published in Sunset since the 1930s. What made his work stand out at the time was how he designed homes not so much based on architecture but on the way people wanted to live in them. Making the most of the Western climate, his goal was to provide a closer relationship with nature through garden courtyards and blur the line between how we use interior and exterior spaces. May in turn created private sanctuaries where families could relax and enjoy a lifestyle of informal outdoor living. He invented the way most people want to live in the West, and his influence is felt throughout the region some 90 years later.
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If you’ve spent any time on design TikTok, then you’ve surely come across interior designer and TikTok creator Julie Jones.
“Impossibly unaffordable” are two words that Californians are probably less than thrilled to hear. In a recent report from Chapman University in Orange, California, and the Frontier Centre of Public Policy (FCPP) in Canada, that’s exactly how four California metros are described. The 2024 edition of Demographia International Housing Affordability shows San Jose, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego listed among the top 10 least affordable housing markets—not just in the United States, but worldwide.
A summer garden can be a source of joy and beauty, but maintaining it doesn't have to come at the expense of the environment. With the right approach, you can make your outdoor space both aesthetically pleasing and sustainable. In this article, we share practical tips for creating a summer garden that is not only a feast for the eyes but also kind to nature. From selecting the right plants to efficiently using water and energy, discover how simple adjustments can make a positive impact on your garden and the surrounding environment.
Pot-grown plants are like caged animals; being confined, they can’t ‘forage’ so they rely totally on us for food. Most compost only supplies ‘starter’ nutrients that are soon used up, so begin feeding plants growing in pots six weeks after potting or repotting.
Several years ago while shopping at a big-box store, I spotted this tote in the household-cleaning section. In addition to carrying cleaning supplies, it can be used as a shower caddy, but I envisioned it as a garden-tool tote—balanced, sturdy, comfortable to carry, and with holes in each compartment for drainage. I’ve used it for a few years now, switching tools as needed so that I’m always ready for the current job. Cleaning the tote in spring or fall is as easy as removing the tools and spraying it out with a hose.
Susan Calhoun’s garden in Poulsbo, Washington started out as an ugly patch of lawn that stretched along a property line. It was close to the shoreline and extremely close to a neighboring house. She craved privacy and four-season appeal but didn’t want to install a heavy line of shrubs or trees and create a claustrophobic “garden room.” Always having been a big fan of ornamental grasses and their undeniable texture, Susan decided to build a double border with grasses as the backbone. To that foundation, she added colorful plants that shine in different seasons, ensuring that this garden always looks good. Susan insists that designing this type of magical garden was easy; it just took the right planning and plants. The following are some of the main areas of this enchanting space, and the perennials, grasses, trees, and shrubs that help it shine.
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