Sarina Rutler: Summer gardening in the heat
Released on Saturday, July 13, 2024 at 12:00 AM
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Even in the heatwave, the Black Eyed Susans are starting to bloom.
A passion flower enjoyed by a bumblebee.
Sarina Rattler
Salisbury Post
The summer solstice has arrived, and with it the heat and drought that Southern gardeners are accustomed to. Personally, this is my least favorite time of the year. Some days in Hurley Park I spend all day watering trees, shrubs, and perennials. These are often newly planted plants, but even established plants can suffer in the heat of a Southern summer.
Between last fall and early spring, staff planted 14 new trees around the park, including replacements for three fringetrees (Chionanthus virginicus) at Hayden's gazebo that were damaged when a tree fell on the gazebo last summer. Some trees are new to the park, including a redbud and a sourberry at Gordon's Gathering Place. They took a few months to acclimate to their new environment, but they still may struggle the first summer. If you just planted a new tree, remember to water it thoroughly. This will encourage the roots to grow deeper and make the tree more resistant to drought in the coming years. If you didn't mulch your garden or tree rings when you planted them, it's not too late. Doing so will help keep the soil moist all summer and suppress weeds. Be sure to water yourself while you're planting.
We also want to introduce some well-established perennials that can tolerate dry summer conditions. Keep in mind that these have been established in the ground for more than a year. Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) grows very well in the summer. Similarly, black-eyed susans (Rudbeckia sp.) are great for the hassle-free gardener. Many gardeners prefer native perennials for the simple reason that they require less watering. This includes perennials such as butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa), mountain mint (Pycnanthemum spp.), and passionflower (Passiflora incarnata), all of which can be found in Hurley Park. Look around your garden this summer and make plans to add some drought-tolerant perennials this fall to enjoy colorful blooms next summer.
For the latest updates on Hurley Park, follow us on Facebook or Instagram @HurleyParkNC. Donations to Hurley Park can be made on our website at salisburync.gov/hurleypark. If you have any questions or would like to reserve the park for an event, please call 704-638-5298.
Sarina Rattler is the public gardens supervisor for the Salisbury Parks and Recreation Department.
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