We lost some very valuable shade when the snowstorm visited last winter. Consequently, many plants are in full sun that were partial shade. This last week has been devastating. When periwinkle singe and curl you know the suns rays are over the top. The acuba is an old and established plant and half the leaves are totally black in spots. The aroids, brugs and bananas all have "torched" places on them. Don't even want to talk about my hydrangeas. Some of them have just dried up an died. All this as I watered almost around the clock. Some with the sprinkler system and a lot by hand. Even the Veronica is dying and it is under a tree.
Now I know I am not alone with this problem. I am undetermined which would be best for the plants, to trim the damage or let it be until this heat wave breaks. We got a wonderful rain last evening but it is to be 102 again today.
Anyone have a suggestion? What are you doing?
To trim or not to trim, that is the question.
I would trim all dead off and if some are half way burnt I would trim these also. The plants will come back if the leaves that are on the plant now, do not give off more moisture than the roots can give.
I agree, trimming might be best and the plants would be less likely to die.
C
I am with Ken, trim the damaged parts off, but you might want to wait till the heat wave is over, if you can stand it.
Worked outside a couple of hours. almost had a heatstroke. I tend to get involved and forget to be prudent. Lots of water and a cool shower helped.
If you think the shading plants will grow back in a few years, you might look at putting up some shade cloth in the meantime. If the formerly-shaded plants are sun burnt, they'll continue to burn, regardless of water or mulch.
If you don't think the shade will be back any time soon, you may have to think about moving or saying farewell to the ones that need the shade.
If it's not sunburn on the leaves and stems, but rather that the ground dries out and heats up a lot more than it used to, mulch should help with that going forward, although it want restore the damage you have now.
I've got a huge shade tree that the stupid neighbors killed, so I'm dealing with a many-year plan to transition through the extra sun now, back to full-sized shade trees. Some days it would be nice to just plant stuff and be done with it, but some days it is interesting to watch the progression.
I don't have any recommendations, Christi, but I hear ya about the hydrangeas. Mine wilt no matter how much water I put on them, or how many times a day I do it. My Lady in Red is 6 years old and has never, ever wilted before. We did not get any of that much-needed rain last night, so I'm back at it today.
Christi, my Acuba and some other heavier leaved plants can't evaporate the water that the sprinkler puts off before the sun comes up. The water droplettes act like a magnifying glass when the sun hits them. So, I try not to water anything until the sun is off completely or only water the ground. Also, these short afternoon rain bursts that only drop a smigon of water do more hard than good where plants are concerned. They stop then the sun blisters the leaves. The thinner leaved will dry quicker in a small breeze but not the dense ones. My succulents and begonias, etc. suffer.
Right now my two young terriers are causing the havoc! The take off chasing squirrels through the flower beds and trample everthing in their path. I have a lot of plants that will need relocated after it gets cool. Right now I have hostas that only have one half of the plant and obedients that look like the beginning of alien crop circles. None of the flowers near trees are safe. I plan to make paths of mulch leading to them, hoping the squirrels and dogs will use the paths next year!
You have two new babies? My younger dog, Chester, did a number on the beds his first year. He is now into the paths that Mattie had already made.
Thank for the information about the acubas. Part of the problem is the canopy that the snow destroyed over the rock patio this past winter. So many things are now in full sun and the heat off of the rock doesn't help. Waiting on a sale so we can replace the canopy.
I don't know what you paid or remember the size of that one, but I saw one at Academy today. It folds out like one of those camping chairs for quick set up, and when collapsed, you wheel it away. I think this is it but it was $59.00. The pic on the box showed four people in chairs under it. http://www.academy.com/index.php?page=content&target=products/outdoors/camping/canopies&start=0&selectedSKU=0216-01469-0010
I could use something like that, if I can fit it in between trees I got growing. lol
If you've got water to spare, that can help with the hot rocks a little. It probably will be futile while the sun is out, but once the patio is out of direct light, spray a thin film of water. Water has a huge heat capacity, and as it evaporates, it will take a lot of heat with it. At least the surrounding plants won't be baking all night after being hot all day.