Millions of Australians sweltered through extreme conditions on Wednesday as the worst heatwave in six years hit large swaths of the country. High temperatures are expected to stick around until the weekend and it’s prompted a warning for those with gardens and plants.
Many might be worried about their lawns, herb gardens, indoor and outdoor plants during a heatwave like this and horticulturalist Sabrina Hahn is here to help. She told Yahoo Lifestyle it’s important to look after your green babies when the mercury gets into the high 30s and even 40s.
“Extreme heat causes all sorts of stress factors in plants, and it’s not just the ground drying out, it’s moisture coming out of the leaf tissue as well,” she said.
RELATED:
How much should I water my lawn, plants, and garden during a heatwave?
Sabrina said it’s vital to keep your lawn and garden moist in these conditions by thoroughly watering them either with a hose or by hand.
“The very best time to do it is early in the morning,” the WA-based expert said.
“But we get some days where it’s 44 degrees, so we have to water in the morning, and then we have to water again that evening.”
Do you have a story? Email stew.perrie@yahooinc.com
She also busted the myth that you shouldn’t be watering your plants in the middle of the day.
There has been a rumour circulating for years that doing this when the sun is potentially at its harshest would do more harm than good.
“It all stemmed from the idea that a drop of water on a leaf is round, and the belief was that that droplet of water acted as a magnifying glass and burned the leaf tissue,” Sabrina told Yahoo Lifestyle.
“But it is not true. There is no science behind that whatsoever.”
Lawns across the country will be getting a battering from the sun this week. Picture: Getty
She said if you’re lucky enough to work from home and keep an eye on your plants and garden, then it could be worth spraying them with water in the middle of the day to keep them hydrated.
“If you hose your foliage down on a 40 degree day, it’s really, really good for the plant,” she added.
“Because that moisture will be taken in through the leaf tissue, through what’s called the stomata, which are the cells on the outside of the leaf.”
But Sabrina said you should absolutely avoid adding fertiliser during a heatwave as that can overwhelm plants that are just trying to survive the heat.
You can buy a ‘sunscreen’ for your plants
The horticulturalist revealed there is a product you can buy that acts like a “sunscreen” for your lawn and plants.
She said Yates’ Drought Shield puts a polymer coating onto your garden that “coats the leaves” so they don’t lose moisture through the leaf tissue.
“You just clip it onto the end of your hose, and you spray the foliage and that last months,” she said.
The 2.5 litre item she’s referring to can be purchased at most flower and plant stores, as well as Mitre 10, for around $34.
There’s also a 750ml spray bottle that’s cheaper at $16 from Amazon.
Sabrina called out the Yates Drought Shield product that acts ‘like a sunscreen’ for your plants during heatwaves. Picture: eBay
What about my indoor plants?
While you might want to crank your A/C while you’re away from your indoor plants during a heatwave, Sabrina said this could actually backfire on you.
“There’s no such thing as an ‘indoor’ plant,” she said.
“They all come from the tropics and they do not like cold air.
SHOP:
“Don’t have your plants right next to the cold air coming from an air conditioner.
“Group your plants together and spray them. It’s not so much about getting them extra water. It’s about mist spraying them so you’ve got moisture hitting the leaf tissue of the plants.”
You could also drop a few ice cubes onto the soil before you leave work as they will deliver water more slowly during the day rather than all at once.
How hot will the Australian heatwave be this week?
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued heat warnings for NSW, Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory.
Some cities are experiencing UV levels into 11, which is considered extreme.
The Bureau’s warnings suggest there will be “several very hot days and warm nights” and minimum temperatures will remain “6 to 12 degrees above average” during the next few days.
It’s tipped to be the worst heatwave in Australia since the black summer bushfires in 2019-20.
The majority of the country will be affected by the heatwave. Picture: Windy
The weather bureau said conditions are set to go from severe to extreme along the NSW-Victoria border on Friday and Saturday.
“We could see some locations pushing up towards 46C, possibly even 47C or so,” Bureau senior meteorologist Miriam Bradbury said.
“Those locations that I’m referring to are places mainly across northern parts of Victoria, that sort of southwestern part of New South Wales and areas of eastern South Australia as well.
“For example, at this point in time, Mildura might see 46C on Friday.”
Want the latest lifestyle and entertainment news? Make sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
Comments are closed.