For those who love working in the garden and seeing summer flowers and harvests, the recent extremely hot weather can be frustrating.
Lancaster County Garden Hotline volunteer Master Gardeners recently met with horticulturist and Penn State University Extension educator Tim Elkner to discuss the issues residential gardeners are experiencing because of the extreme heat. Here, we discuss the challenges posed by high temperatures and possible solutions.
Water Issues
Rain has been somewhat scattered this summer, with very little rain falling in most areas of Lancaster County. Typically, yards are recommended to receive an inch of rain per week, but with warmer temperatures, you may need to water your garden with an inch of water two to three times a week.
Watering should be done slowly and directly into the soil. Watering plants every day is likely to harm them. New shrubs and trees need water in addition to rainfall for 5 to 6 years. Brown grass protects itself by going dormant.
At this point, the only way to restore the green color of your dormant grass is for natural precipitation to return.
Diseases have decreased, but pests still exist
Plant diseases are often spread by high humidity and water splashing into the soil, moving the pathogens. With the exception of powdery mildew, which spreads due to humidity and moisture in the early summer, plant diseases are rarely a problem.
Meanwhile, Erkner warns that thrips and spider mites, tiny, almost invisible pests that suck the sap from many types of plants, can flourish on stressed plants during hot, dry weather.
Additionally, we may see an increase in wildlife damage, including deer, groundhogs, and raccoons, as they seek moisture from plants they normally don't eat. Hornets and other common wasp pests will soon be coming out in force, regardless of the weather. On a brighter note, Japanese rhinoceros beetles seem to be having a hard time emerging from the hard, dry ground this year.
Troubles in the vegetable garden
Tomatoes, peppers and squash may show blossom end rot, which causes the ends of vegetables furthest from the stem to blacken and shrivel up and is made worse by uneven watering.
This condition can be avoided by watering vegetable plants thoroughly two to three times a week. As the weather improves in late summer, the fruit should no longer show signs of blossom end rot.
Another effect of extreme heat is that our beloved tomato flowers fall off and the fruit on the plant doesn't ripen. Temperatures above 85 degrees can cause tomatoes to ripen very slowly or stop completely. Once tomatoes start to color, you can ripen them indoors.
As summer continues, you can expect increased precipitation and milder temperatures. We are here to help you with any garden issues you may have. Contact our Garden Hotline at LancasterMG@psu.edu or 717-394-6851.
Lois Miklas is a Penn State Lancaster County Master Gardener and former regional Master Gardener coordinator.
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