How can we protect our plants against drought and heat?
Proper protection of our plants in the summer heat and drought can be a key factor for gardeners. In the heat of summer, many of us ask ourselves: how can I protect my plants from drought and heat, or from the scorching sun and lack of water? To keep plants healthy, it is important to use proper watering techniques, introduce shading methods and ensure that the soil is properly mulched. In this article, we'll show you the best tips and tricks to effectively protect your plants in the summer heat to keep your garden healthy and thriving.
A significant proportion of plants is water, to varying degrees from plant to plant:
- VIDEO: trees water content 50-75%
- Vegetables, ornamental plants 80-90%
- But e.g. salad or uborka water content nearly 95%
This also shows that for plants the most important is water, only then come the light and nutrients!
How can we conserve water in the soil?
Protection against summer heat and drought is essential for plants and soil, as excessive heat and water shortages can seriously compromise plant health and development. Because of the evaporation of water in the soil and the increased water requirements of plants, it is important to use effective methods to conserve moisture and reduce heat stress.
It is important to keep water in the soil for a number of reasons (among others):
- Plant health: An adequate water supply is essential for photosynthesis, nutrient uptake and overall plant health. Lack of water inhibits growth, causes yellowing and wilting, and can lead to long-term plant death.
- Soil life: Microorganisms and root systems in the soil also depend on adequate moisture. In dry soil, the activity of micro-organisms is reduced, which affects the breakdown and uptake of nutrients.
- Soil structure: Regular watering helps to maintain soil structure, preventing cracks and soil erosion. This contributes to healthy root growth and plant stability.
Mulcs
But what are our options to avoid water scarcity and drought? Our first option is mulching with a mulccsal, or dead plant remains. Whatever is cut, pruned or uprooted above the ground should be placed on the ground below the plant, if possible.
Mulching against dry rot
Soil cover could also be an option mulching with plant mixtures pl. Danuba 10M-In a mulch of 10 species of plants with mycorrhizal fungi. Only sow in moist soil or water after application to allow the seeds to germinate! Sow at a depth of 2-4 cm.
The basic principle is to avoid Artificial use of materials such as plastic sheeting or tinted plastic sheeting, do not bring into your garden any material that could not be grown there
Let's not disturb the soil!
And, if possible do not fiddle - digging, raking ... - our soil, because it dries it out, reduces its humus content, eliminates worm holes and cuts the hyphae of mycorrhizal fungi
Where does the water absorbed by the plant's roots go?
The plant can evaporate through its respiratory openings. These stomata are mainly found on the backs of the leaves. This is also where the plant absorbs carbon dioxide (CO2) and produces sugar from it. If the plant senses that the outside temperature is getting warmer, for example around 28 degrees Celsius, it closes the gas exchange openings. This prevents the water inside it from evaporating and drying out.
Can we cool the plant?
To some extent yes!
- if the plant is healthy, with a harmonious supply of nutrients, it is able to absorb maximum water from the soil. You don't have to wait for your plant to turn yellow, but you should feed it every month, e.g. DanuVital Bio+with a complete nutrient line or Asco Alga and Kelpak seaweed preparations
- silicon applied to the leaves not only makes it more difficult for insects, caterpillars and fungi to move through the leaves, but also has a light-reflecting effect. It can also slightly cool the leaf surface, e.g. by reducing the risk of fungal damage. Ino Si
Some useful tips for watering
Watering against drought like it rains in nature, so about once a week or a couple of times a month. In nature it doesn't rain every day - at least not in the Hungarian climate - so we avoid that too, because it gets the roots used to the top few centimetres of soil and washes the nutrients out ⬇️
2. better to water in the morning, because then as the air gets warmer, the water evaporates from the leaves, and you don't create the right humid conditions for fungal attack
3. if the temperatures approaching 22 degrees, you should stop watering - and spraying - because the water droplets can burn the leaves like a big drinker
4. the best and perhaps cheapest water is rainwater. Collect and water your plants with it. This will also reduce our water bill and protect the environment. All you need is a barrel/tank and a garden submersible pump (or watering can 🙂
