IMG_3259While you can plant almost year round here in Portland it’s best to avoid these super hot days. It’s perfectly fine to keep your new plants in their nursery pots safe in a shady spot just as long as you keep them well watered (which means every day – in this heat)!

For existing plantings that are already in the ground here are a few tips to keep your landscape healthy!

Soaker hoses or automatic watering systems work best. Many plants like tomatoes prefer regular watering schedules and dislike overhead watering on their leaves, which can cause blossom end rot!
Water early in the morning or later in the evening. This can help conserve water as less is lost to evaporation and most plants will be feeding during those times.
Avoid misting plants in the heat of the day, overhead watering can burn plant’s leaves if applied in direct sun. Plus you are more likely to end up with burned shoulders as well. Some plants such as Rhododendrons curl their leaves to conserve water – don’t be tempted to mist wilted leaves until the cool part of the day.
Potted containers in direct sun will most likely need to be watered every day. Pots cannot hold much moisture and are generally way hotter than soil under ground so they will dry out much faster. It’s almost impossible to overwater a pot!
Even drought tolerant plants will need to be monitored their first summer until their roots are established.
Plants that have been stressed by drying out are much more susceptible to disease and pests so keep those plants watered.