Where I live, summer isn’t just hot it’s brutal. Our heat settles in
early and stays late, and the last thing any gardener wants is to be outside in
the full force of an afternoon sun. That’s why my day starts early. I’m up at 6
and out the door by 6:30 a.m., ready to work while the air is still cool enough
to breathe.
My gardening window runs from 6:30 to about 9:30 a.m. Three hours may
not sound like much, but it’s the perfect amount of time to get everything
done: watering the gardens, turning on the slow‑drip hoses, deadheading,
checking for pests (including the occasional armadillo), weeding, harvesting,
and tending to whatever else needs attention.
Morning watering is essential. Plants can absorb moisture before the
heat of the day hits, and nothing is wasted. After 11 a.m., most water
evaporates before it ever reaches the roots. When I worked as an estate
gardener, we watered in the morning and again in the afternoon at 4:00 PM. That
second watering wasn’t for deep hydration it was a gentle misting to refresh
the plants so everything looked perky and alive for the family to enjoy.
Many gardeners call this the three‑hour rule: during the hottest months,
work early in the morning to protect both yourself and your plants from intense
sun, high UV rays, and heat stress. It’s a simple rhythm, but it makes all the
difference for the garden and for the gardener.
No comments:
Post a Comment