Chicago Home and Lifestyles – Landscape care for hot and dry weather

The Chicagoland area and much of the country are gripped in a heatwave. The temperatures stay high even overnight, rarely dipping below 70 degrees. We need to pay a little more attention to our landscape to keep it healthy and growing throughout this trying time! 

Water, water, water. This is the most important thing to remember. The usual rule of thumb is: one inch per week, which is sufficient for most plantings in the yard. But when temperatures are regularly over 90 degrees that needs to at least double. Much of the moisture you are putting down is lost to immediate evaporation.

Trees and shrubs, especially if less than 5 years old, need long slow watering with an open hose between the drip line and the trunk or base. Lawn watering is done with an oscillating sprinkler set low to the ground to minimize evaporation. The garden will do well with a soaker hose, where the water slowly seeps out the length of the hose. This also minimizes evaporation. Water for  at least one hour early in the day. 

“Night watering” can sometimes promote disease like fungus, so try to avoid watering in the evening if you can.

Keep all drains clear. Heat can cause leaves to dry and drop which will blow and clog drains. Inevitably, rain will come, and in this kind of weather it will come in severe thunderstorms. These storms can drop a few inches of rain in a short amount of time. You must make sure your drains, gutters and downspouts are free-flowing and free of debris.

Check trees close to the house, garage and other buildings. Trim any branches that are dead or could damage buildings in high winds. Visually check the roof for loose shingles and call a professional if you see anything loose that could compound the situation during a severe storm. 

Hold off on fertilizing. Fertilizing the garden or lawn during a heat wave can be dangerous. Fertilizer can cause burns when applied when it is very hot. The plants will get enough nourishment from the soil for the time being. Again, the most important care for your landscape right now is water. Fertilize again when temperatures are moderate. 

Kathleen Weaver-Zech and Dean’s Team Chicago