Well... here in Georgia, it looks like we went from winter straight into summer. At 6pm tonight, it was 88 degrees... after a hot scorcher of a day.
I have azaleas and hydrangeas dotted throughout the back yard which has plenty of dappled shade by summertime. Problem is, the trees haven't leafed out yet so there's barely any shade at all... so they've all had the sun beating down on them all day long. Normally that's not a problem since spring is usually mild and rainy, but this spring is already feeling like summer (minus the summery shade trees).
Both the azaleas and hydrangeas are looking very droopy. A camellia looks darn-near dead... its leaves have curled inward and started to dry out.
I have been careful to keep everything well watered (not overly watered so as to cause root rot) but it's going to be in the 80's all week and into next week.
What should I do besides keep them watered? Should I try to shade each plant somehow?? Not even sure what I have that could shade them but I'm open to any ideas for keeping my plants alive until there is shade again! Thanks in advance for any suggestions!!
Wilty plants: Heat stress? how to deal?
If you can rig up some shade they'd probably appreciate it--if you've got a patio umbrella that you could set up in that area that could work. Or get creative with hanging sheets from the trees or something--function is more important than looks (unless it's in the front yard and you have a picky HOA!)
If you use sheets, you could lay them directly on the shrubs during the hottest part of the day.
Ooh, sheets and umbrellas... GREAT ideas! Fortunately they are all tucked away in the back so their makeshift shade can be as ugly as it needs to be. :D
The new leaves on the trees overhead seem to be visibly bigger every day so I'm hoping every day will be just a little easier on my sweet little plants... thank you so much for those ideas.
Haha don't get me started on HOAs...
You have a list I am sure Grantman....LOL
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