Hello! I in need of some help here. I live in Philly and have a small outdoor area I’m trying to have a little potted garden in. It’s south facing and it’s like a concrete box so it gets HOT and SO sunny. I’ve tried, basil, rosemary, lavender, thyme, oregano, and mint.
My basil is a sad droopy disaster from too much sun and even my rosemary! The thyme and oregano are looking a little wilty too. I’m not over or under watering so it can only be the sun/heat doing it. Anyone have any suggestions on what to plant that can live in this condition? (My lavender is happy at least!)
We also can’t leave our umbrella up when we’re not here during the day because it catches the wind.
by Famous_Permit_8749
4 Comments
What’s the pot situation like? Tiny individual pots will lose moisture faster and you’ll be watering 3-4x a day. Especially if they’re porous like terra cotta.
Larger, deeper pots with multiple plans and irrigation in the center (like a terra cotta watering spike with a wine bottle, or even better an olla) are the way to go.
There probably needs to be an “ecosystem” overhaul where you have a ton of plants and ground cover. Plants can lower temperatures en masse, but that can be a large scale project and a huge investment. And it may include adding temporary, large, unattractive shade cloth until some plants get established.
But right now you have a lot of heat holding materials that are common in urban places. Cinder block, decomposed granite, brick, all heat up relatively quickly and tend to hold heat well into the evening.
Grasses, trees, and vines tend to be good cooling plants since they can provide shade, moisture, and are aggressive enough to survive heat or cold. You might want to consult with a local grower, either an independent store or maybe a community garden, to see what plants work well in heat for your region. For Philly I imagine there should be grasses and flowering plants that can be good for natural plains style growth.
Water features can help since large amounts of water can hold temperature at a more even level, unlike brick or stone or concrete which can heat up quickly and hold heat into the evening. Adding levels of plants and architecture can help too, like arbors, stand alone lattice, privacy screens, or pergolas. Creating plant “forts” of hardier plants that surround more sensitive plants can help shield them from exposed heat and dryness.
Also, if you buy plants from a store, try to match the conditions of either the store or your yard. Plants need to acclimate and may need to be moved into new conditions slowly. Exposing them to new environments incrementally. They can suffer shock if the transitions are too fast.
Ground cover, like wood chips, may be helpful too. They tend to be less heat absorbing and can hold moisture while keeping weeds down.
Shade and maybe some slightly out of grow zone plants may help too. Some heat resiliency could be beneficial until other plants get established and big enough.
Salvia might tolerate your environment. We have a similar situation and it thrives.
I live in the NE and have a patio like this. Bigger pots and buying plants that are not just sun lovers but also drought resistant is the way to go. Mediterranean plants like lemon thyme will do well. Osteoporum is a good flower option. Also get mulch or a plant that will cover the ground. This year I’m also trying soil additive to retain water but tbd.