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Don’t be fooled by last week’s false fall, summer’s scorching temps aren’t gone yet. But if the resurgent heat has your prized hostas looking like limp lettuce and your lawn resembling a crisp piece of toast, you’re not alone.
Welcome to the final stretch of summer in Denver, where even seasoned gardeners can find themselves second-guessing every sprinkler setting. But don’t despair. “Heat and drought happen in Colorado,” says Mike Bone, associate director of horticulture at Denver Botanic Gardens. “It’s perfectly natural to see plants stress, and even our native prairies have the tendency to go dormant during periods of heat.”
But there are a few tricks to keeping your plants happy when the temps rival hell. Below, Bone shares seven tips for getting your garden through the dog days of summer.
1. Water in the cool hours.
Resist the urge to rescue your drooping plants with a midday shower; it’s one of the worst things you can do, Bone says. “People often think that it’s hot, so they should water their plants to cool them off, but it creates the opposite effect.” Watering during the day actually heats plants up by creating extra humidity. Instead, stick to early morning or evening sessions when temperatures drop and the sun is lower. You’ll lose less water to evaporation, avoid damaging your plants, and give them the hydration they need.
2. Adjust watering frequency thoughtfully.
Consider increasing your watering frequency during the hottest part of the year. Getty Images
Your regular watering schedule might need a temporary boost during the hottest stretches. If you typically water twice a week, consider adding a third session if it’s sweltering outside, Bone says. Just remember to return to your normal routine once temps cool down. Individual plants that are naturally thirstier—like Rocky Mountain columbine and red osier dogwood—can benefit from spot watering, giving them extra attention without oversaturating your yard.
3. Learn to read your plants’ signals.
Wilted leaves don’t always mean what you think they do. “The symptoms for plants that are too hot and overwatered often look similar,” Bone says. Both stressed conditions kill off the fine root hairs that absorb water, leaving plants unable to hydrate properly. Overwatered soil tends to crowd out oxygen (and smells bad), while drought stress usually comes with cracked, dry earth. Distinguishing the difference can prevent you from making the wrong move when your garden appears distressed.
4. Preserve your ground cover.
The temptation to tidy up garden beds can actually work against you during a hot spell. “If you have big leaves that are covering the ground surface, that’s going to trap humidity into the soil and into the roots of the plants where they need it,” Bone says. Even weeds can serve as a protective barrier, keeping the soil moist and roots cool. Save your clean-up projects for autumn, when your flora aren’t desperate for extra shade.
5. Create temporary shade for treasured plants.
The simplest way to prevent your prized peonies from burning to a crisp? Setting up some temporary shade for them. The setup might look a bit strange in your yard, but a cloth, umbrella, or tent can help plants that aren’t quite as heat-hardy as the rest of your landscape.
6. Choose Colorado-adapted varieties.
Narrow-leaved coneflowers are hardy enough to handle the Colorado weather. Getty Images
Popular plants—like hostas and Japanese anemones—and hybrids bred for color and size commonly struggle in our state because they come from wetter climates. “We think of Echinacea (coneflower) as a drought-tolerant plant, but a lot of the ones on the marketplace are from wetter prairies or places that aren’t as dry as Colorado,” Bone says. Instead, opt for the native Echinacea angustifolia (narrow-leaved coneflower) or another locally adapted variety that’s built to withstand our weather.
7. Embrace natural plant responses.
When your plants droop in the afternoon heat, don’t overreact. “If you see things wilting, that’s a natural response to drought,” Bone says. “Oftentimes, they’ll recover overnight.” Think of it as your stems taking a midday siesta to get through the worst of the scorching conditions. Give them time to bounce back naturally once temperatures cool. Chances are they’ll look much better after sunset.
Read More: Colorado Farmers Answer 6 Common Gardening Questions
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