Hot summer temperatures can take their toll on you and your plants! We know it is never fun to see leaves wilting and stems drooping in your landscape, but panic not promise. Just like us, most plants can bounce back from heat stress with just a little TLC, and you'll be good to grow before you know it.

Below are some tips from the experts on how to treat and care for your plants during a heatwave.

1. Water Wisely

High temperatures dry out the earth very quickly and it's important to ensure your plants don't become dehydrated. By adopting just a few smart watering tips you will waste less water yet hydrate more effectively:

Early Morning is Best

Hot Mid-Day temperatures cause water to evaporate before it can even absorb meaning you use more water and your plants are still thirsty. For best results, water in the early morning when temperatures are cooler-so less is lost to evaporation and more is absorbed by your plant's roots. Read more about Best Watering Tips for Happy, Healthy Plants.

Lock in Soil Moisture

When you're done watering, it's time to lock in that precious moisture. Mulches of compost, leaves, or grass clippings all help to slow evaporation by shading the soil from the sun's rays. You can make a living mulch by planting densely or using wild, sprawling plants like squashes to shade the soil. Read more about Best Tips to Look After Your Plants in the Summer Heat.

2. Stop Fertilizing

When the temperature rises above 85-90ºF (29-32ºC), most plants begin to suffer. Some, like tomatoes, deal with it by wilting their leaves natural reaction to water loss. Many fruiting plants, such as Moonshine Bush Calathea Zebrina Prayer Plants, and peppers, may also drop their leaves or stop to set new ones as they work to deal with the heat.

Now, you may think the solution is to fertilize your crops to make them hardier, but this is counterproductive since plants will now need even more water to process that fertilizer. A sudden surge of nutrients also signals the plant to grow potentially deadly and stress-inducing action at scorching temperatures. In short, stop fertilizing and water instead.

3.Add Some Shade

When it's hot, we all love to seek out some shade, and so will many of your crops. Old net curtains or tulle cloth works, as do white bed sheets. You can also buy shade cloth that is sold purposefully in different levels of sunblock- from 15%, 30%, 40%-right up to 100%. It won't grow as rapidly under it, but it will receive some sun and be considerably less stressed. Secure the shade cloth with bulldog clips or pegs in clothes, slung over frames or hoops to keep them in place. Many plants, including cool-season veggies like cabbage and lettuce, and trees like the Mahogany Tree, will appreciate afternoon sun shading. Read more about water for houseplants.

4. Harvest On Time

Removing plant material means that there's less foliage or fruits for your plants to have to service. Fruiting and pod-producing plants, in particular, should be harvested in good time to save the plant's energy. Finish ripening fruits that haven't fully colored up in the kitchen to give them a break. They'll revert to their productive selves when the weather cools. Just like for us, extreme summer heat can be stressful for them, but with these simple strategies, you'll save them from a lot of suffering. Read more about Planting Trees In Summer - How to Make It Work.

How to Order Plants From Eureka Farms?

Now licensed for a full-scale nursery featuring an expansive inventory of landscaping trees, fruit trees, palm trees, and the biggest houseplant collection. If you want to pump up your curb appeal or transform your porch into a class act, Eureka Farms will let you know how to do it all, from topiary trees and hedges to everything in between. You can count on us to pack the shipment with the utmost care across the country, and your plants will reach you as quickly as possible. If you're looking for ideas on improving air quality, lifting moods, and adding a touch of natural beauty to your work-from-home office space, here's the help of these easy-care indoor plants. Happy Planting!