“SUCCESSFUL GARDENERS
RESEARCH
W EAT HER
PREVIO US
YEAR S,
REPOR T S ,
AND
S U M M E R T IM E
PAT T ER N S
L O OK
R EAD
AT
FR OM
DAIL Y
ABO UT
G ARDEN IN G
Shading, Soil, and Mulch Fight the Heat
W EAT HER
N EW
PR AC T IC ES. ”
Similar to covering plants during frosts for insulation, shade can be
put up during the hottest parts of the day to provide some cooling.
From a little before noon to a few hours past, the sun is at its most
lethal. Gardeners can erect light colored fabric or screening where it
can deflect the sun’s rays during these time periods. It might not seem
like much, but a few degrees cooler and a reprieve from prolonged
direct sunlight is beneficial. Mulching is shading on the ground
floor. Roughly eight inches of mulch throughout your garden will
settle and keep moisture and coolness within the ground while
protecting against the scorching sun.
Along with shading, soil is an important countermeasure
against hot summer days. Soil needs to retain water yet still
allow some drainage. Organic ingredients like peat moss and
compost soak up water and provide nutrients but drain enough (espe-
cially in a raised bed) to make room for new moisture and nutrients.
58
Maximum Yield