Summer Bonus Episode: Protecting your Garden Through Extreme Weather

on summer break right now. In fact, Molly and I are on opposite sides of Lake Michigan, but we cannot stop our plant addiction. So we're bringing you some mini episodes to brighten up your feed and grow your plant curiosity. Throughout the summer, we're dropping incredible stories from growers, advice from experts, and we'll even have some fun conversations around

fascinating plant facts. In this bonus episode, we are going to give you some tips and tricks for protecting your plants in extreme weather, the hottest heat waves to the wettest summer storms. We're going to help you create a more resilient garden. So this summer, you've likely heard or seen the news stories about extreme weather conditions happening all across the country. In the world, it is terrifying, from droughts to flooding to hurricane level winds up and down

the East Coast. It's clear that our climate is changing and we really have to think about how it will impact the plants we grow. How can we give them the best chance at survival in a broad range of weather patterns. So that's why we've done some digging to bring you tips for extreme weather proofing your garden. Let's

get started one, give your plants some shade. Research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science of the United States of America found that in urban areas during heat waves, the daytime temperatures were reduced, sometimes by more than under tree coverage. So while not all plants do great in complete shade, finding a spot in the yard with partial shade might be that right middle ground to give your plants the level of sun they need

without leaving them vulnerable to high temperatures. Taller partner plants can also be useful coverage for smaller plants. But if natural shade is an issue in your garden, the Farmer's Almanac has this recommendation, It suggests covering your raised beds with a lightweight bedsheet or burlap to give it some cover from the sun's rays. To consider wind breaks. Aside from the shade that trees and taller plants can provide, they can also serve as important barriers from the wind

known as wind breaks when storms roll through. They can also distribute snow away from your garden as well, and this actually happened during the dust Bowl. The government planted hundreds of millions of trees to protect the farms of the Midwest from crazy winds and to stabilize the land and preserve the soil. Even today, farmers will strategically plant rows of wind breaks, which are perennial tall grasses or trees, to not only protect their crops, but also to protect

their livestock and houses. Additionally, planning near or around slope terrain creates natural wind breaks, and on a smaller scale, even strategically using rocks around your plants can be helpful. Though it is important to keep in mind that rocks can also increase the temperature of your soil as they absorb temperatures throughout the day, which is helpful for colder months. But uh not as helpful in the thick of the summer. Three.

Slow drip irrigation. You probably already know the importance of watering your plants early in the morning and later in the day when the sun isn't at its peak, But the other important watering factor is to get the water as close to the roots as possible. Bob Vila dot Com says a drip irrigation system can help achieve the slow and deep hydration your ants need. It may even help you lower your water bill at the same time

for mulch, mulch and mulch. When high temperatures hit, there's also the concern around drought, and that's when gardeners start worrying about the moisture content of their soil. And that's really where mulch can help. Along with helping the plants and soil retain the moisture, Multi combats soil erosion. Not to mention that when rainstorms do come through, Multi protects the soil from being compacted from heavy rainfall. Basically, mulch

is a gardening superhero and essential for any kind of weather. Five. Secure your tall growers and crawlers from tomato plants to ivy. There's some plants that just grow upward and onward, but when heavy rains or high winds come through, these upright growers can take a serious hit, getting bent or even breaking.

So to keep those plants growing in the right direction, you can take an old t shirt and cut it into strips and use the strips to tie your plants to stakes, the trellis or even a growing hoop, which will prevent breaking and keep those upwardly mobile plants growing in the right direction. Six observe and reflect, So one of the things I often forget to do is to do a proper post mortem of my garden at the end of the season, which can be really really helpful.

And as you grow, all you do is observe which your plants are holding up and even thriving through the ups and downs of the weather, and then you can take stock of where and how you planted them. Then at the end of the season you can reflect on which plants were winners and what may have helped their growth. I like to use that to create a plan for

the next season. You can favor the varieties that did well and configure a layout that puts these more resilient plants in the same or similar spots for next season. But be sure you're thinking about those clunkers too, those plants that did not do well. If you considered their location, perhaps you can think about moving them or attempting different

planting and growing strategies for next season. In some cases, they might not even be the right fit for your garden because of the weather you experience your region or the soil or environment you have. In that case, I'd suggest just saying thank you to those plants, wishing them luck and letting them know you're moving on. It'll be

better for you both. Then that's it for today's bonus episode, but check back here again for more bonus episodes this summer, and don't forget no matter what season it is or where you're at in your gardening journey, there are some incredible resources waiting for you on the Miracle Grow website. Humans Growing Stuff is a collaboration from My Heart Radio

and your friends at Miracle Grow. Our show is written and produced by Molly Sosha and Knee Mongay Fatigue there this episode was edited and engineered by our Pale Matt Still. Thank you so much for listening.