Remember when it was spring
I, for one, was not going to let an exciting to-do list get in the way dawdling, piddling and playing guitar, but when I finally got to watering the garden, it was already time to sweat and reflect on my place in the scheme of things which suddenly is summer.
Meteorologists claim June 1 as the first day of summer, and calendar-makers wait until the summer solstice. For gardeners, it’s all about the weather, not dates. Summer of 2024 was supposedly one of the hottest ones on record, and forecasters predict temperatures in our area the next couple months might set a new record. Yikes! Gardeners have already planted for the season, so now what!
Soil suffers if allowed to dry out in sustained heat, so plants suffer. Gather your favorite kinds of mulch and apply generously. Grass clippings and straw spread liberally and tastefully around plants is a good start. Some folks stir in amendments before applying mulch; then, water with a purpose.
If the forecast holds brutally true, a diligent gardener might consider a regular schedule for watering. Maybe you’re fortunate enough to have an annoying app on your watch that alerts you to stop what you’re doing and go water the carrots and check on the cosmos. Not me.
Or, you can fashion a spreadsheet into a calendar with staggered watering times and seed-planting days pinpointed for particular vegetables and follow it steadfastly. However, spreadsheets are so captivating and fulfilling, you might spend so much time scheduling and managing your spreadsheet calendar that nobody waters your garden. Uh-oh! Not me, though.
How about just going to the garden and listening to what the plants have to say? Even though we live in the Natural State, gardeners should wear clothes to protect from sunspots, solar flares, nefarious drones and curious neighbors. Learn about SPF, which is more than a useful crossword answer. ¿Tienes un sombrero? I wear a floppy hat, hydrate as needed and take breaks often.
The best time to water is early morning, though that is not convenient for everyone. Do the best you can. The best way to water is with perfectly placed and well-maintained drip lines, but those are not convenient for everyone. Overhead sprinklers waste water. Don’t waste water.
Two 50-foot hoses deliver water to the middle of my garden space, and, from there, I wrangle another hose through non-linear pathways and water by hand. My goal is to water the soil, not the leaves of the plants which, in my philosophy, is worth the effort. I get to know the plants better. White flies can infest a tomato patch overnight (that’s not good), and the gardener – face-to-face with the plants while watering – can respond.
Speaking of tomatoes (and peppers, etc.), they appreciate a blanket of mulch to moderate the soil temperature and retain moisture – extra vital in hot summers. If you have to mow grass or know someone who does, you have mulch for garden beds. Grass clippings provide excellent cover for beds though they might need replenishing after a season because they decompose nicely thereby freshening up the soil. Gardeners are all about soil.
Even adequately watered, plants might need protection from an extended series of scorching afternoons. Children don’t need much to make a fort or hideaway, so make a fort for your bush cucumbers if they need it. Sawhorses, lawn chairs or portable benches can be the framework over which you hang Persian rugs or the Bayeux Tapestry for the afternoon… or a tarp or old curtain. Spinach and arugula prefer shade, you know. If plants call out for relief, be a four-year old and make a fort.
One good thing about hot, hot weather is chiggers run and hide. Another good thing is we can reminisce about being snowed in for four days. Another good thing is we know how to prepare, and now’s the time.