Yes, its that time of year again, where fragile or newly planted plants become scorched in the few hot days during summer. Don't despair, here's our tips to get them green and growing again.
Firstly decide how bad the scorch and burn is, choose a number between 1 and 10 (10 being total destruction of all foliage). The treatment differs with the % burn.
Remember the plant is under a lot of stress and you don't want to stress them out any more. Pruning will encourage new growth and this new growth can be easily burnt (again) with another hot day.
1 - 5: Just remove burnt leaves with secateurs and water with seaweed solution every 7days over the roots and foliage.
6-10: Water every 7days with seaweed solution. Leave well alone, do not prune anything until the weather cools and the hot days fade. In autumn prune the plant all over, removing all scorched leaves.
There will be no doubt another few hot days, so remember to protect fragile plants with a shade sail, shadecloth or umbrella on these days. Mulching is essential at this time of year is a thick layer of any organic material over your garden beds will conserve moisture, stop the weeds and keep plant roots cooler. Choose from Lucerne, sugar cane, tea-tree, pelletised paper or Coco peat (coconut fibre)
Heat Stress: Plants such as hydrangea and impatiens need careful attention to moisture levels in hot weather. Spray any plant that is heat affected with Yates Stress Guard to help prevent loss of water by transpiration.
Reservoir of water: Make a pin-hole in the bottom of a plastic drink bottle. Fill with water and a few drops of seaweed solution. Bury into the soil alongside plants need regular water e.q fruiting figs and developing passionfriut and watermelon. Keep the water filled via a funnel.
Extra shade: On really hot days it is good to set up shade cloth or umbrella for sun sensitive plants.
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