I have a "naked" tomato plant on my deck...very few leaves to protect my tomatoes...so I rolled it into the shade and will leave it there until these scorching temps drop a bit.

I water all my plants lightly...enough for a well needed drink...but not too much...I think they need to learn to be hardy ('specially under my care).

So how do you handle the heat?

1. Set up the sprinkler.
2. Go inside.
3. Move the sprinkler.
4. Go inside for about 20-30 min.
5: Repeat steps 3-4 until 10 or 10:30
6. Turn off hose.

Next day. Start at step 3 again....etc.

Is that till 10 in morning or in evening?

I used to fertilize and found that a healthier plant withstands the heat much better, only problem was that I was bad about keeping up with a schedule to fertilize and found in the end my plants were not happy with me for neglecting them.

Since I work and it would be so blasted hot in the mid-day, I start about 6 pm or so. I know "plants don't like wet feet", but I don't think they stay wet during this type of weather. Morning would be better, but I'd have to quit my job to do it

Of course it is in the evening. Duh on my part. When I worked I did the same thing from about 4:30 until 9-10.

I'm one of the lucky ones that stay home. With all the heat and humidity I water at 5 a.m. and then again at 6 p.m. for all my containerized Brugmansia. The humidity pulls the moisture right out of them and then the evaporation takes care of the rest.

Watering at night I found where you soak only the crown and not the leaves and stems are okay. IMHO

You stay at home and are up at 5 a.m.! That is still night time to me

I would agree that keeping the stem and leaves dry should work for night time watering...

Sun + Heat + Humidity + Sand= me watering any time I can! My hubby set up a really great sprinkling system that makes watering so much easier.

Rose

Nice hubby!

I like soaker hoses and newpaper mulch with something on it to hold it
down. The mulch, you can use anything, keeps the moisture from
evaporating away. It does nothing for the transporation from the plant itself in the heat of the day tho so don't be surprised if badly wilted plants revive when
it starts to cool down after sunset.

For myself, I go out as soon as I can get dressed and breakfast eaten and
only work for about 15 - 30 min. at a time. I come in, drink some really cold
water, sit for a bit, then go back out for a repeat of the schedule. A cold wet
cloth on the back of your neck or wrapped around your neck helps keep
the body temp. down. A few years ago the water holding crystals were used
to make neck wraps and they worked quite well. I use to keep some in the
freezer and rotate as I needed a fresh one. I need to make some more. For
reasonable prices go to www.watersorb.com. At least when I got mine it was
the best place to go. Of course you can use them in your pots too and even
in the soil.

GOD bless and keep each of you.

I do use mulch too...I forgot about that and it does help keep the moisture in the ground. Leaves do get wilted in some areas but mostly near the house where it gets hotter. The leaves do come back once late afternoon hits.

I water only new plants and weaker ones in the late evening. I have a motto here in this humid, hot state of KY....if it can't stand the conditions, then it is replaceable.

My daughter and I begin gardening chores such as weeding from about 5:30 AM until the sun hits the beds or the heat begins to make us sweat too much.....which is usually before 9:00 AM.

I love to weed on overcast days and when there is a mild breeze.

I use mulch and when I water, I do water deep at the base of the plant, not overhead.

Nana3

Hi Nana3, I have a hard time weeding early morning or in evening due to mosquitoes. They can't seem to get enough of me

Deb I live in the hot humid state of Indiana...I kind of have your attitude too about plants needing to take it..But sometimes I relent and water..Like now I am just doing enough to sustain them...Hoping for rain...
I too am really bothered by mosquitoes..I never noticed it so much until this year...I guess since I am older and well seasoned I am really tasty....

Maridell I was determined not to let those little boogers get me this year and because I enjoy visiting lots of gardens I bought a big family pack of off which includes sprays, wipes and gels. I placed one can by my back door but somehow never spray on my way out. It's the first thing I see when I come back in all bit up The good news is I've been remembering to take a can to garden walks with me and am usually the most popular gardener in the crowd. Which reminds me of this little tip. If you use bug spray make sure to spray before you arrive or out in the street as many gardeners don't use pesticides (includes me) so they can attract wildlife so you don't want to be spraying in their garden.

I have a recipe for homemade bug repellent that someone let me try a few weekends ago...it seemed to work but now I have to find the ingredients to make my own.

Good mention about not spraying when in other people's gardens.

Hey, we have a cooling trend here in Iowa now. I was able to shut off the air and open the house this morning!

Not here! It's still really humid today.

I hope some of the relief is headed your way...it has to let up some time!

Finally! Beautiful day today! Had the grandkids, so we went to the waterpark instead of gardening!