Hot Summer Gardening Tips: Protect Your Plants in Heat

Summer gardening requires specific care. Don't fear pruning flowering shrubs/trees—failure to prune is the biggest mistake. Twenty years landscaping showed unpruned landscapes deteriorate rapidly.

Pruning mistakes grow out like bad haircuts. Use common sense and proper technique.

Humidity Management

High humidity causes plant problems. Don't water before dark—ensure plants dry overnight to prevent fungus.

Powdery Mildew

White film on ornamental leaves (dogwoods, purple sandcherry). Not severely harmful but damages foliage, stunts growth. Garden centers have general fungicides. Plants recover after fall defoliation.

Pythium Blight in Lawns

Perennial rye grass (common in northern blends) suffers in humidity. White cotton-candy appearance mornings on wet soil near walks/driveways. Water early day to prevent. Affected lawns show dark green Kentucky bluegrass patches after rye dies.

Fire Blight

Highly contagious. Burn pruned branches. Disinfect shears with rubbing alcohol between cuts.

Shotgun Fungus in Mulch

Unique fungus swells, explodes, spatters tiny brown specks up to 8 feet—sticks like glue to houses/windows. Often mistaken for paint/spiders/aliens.

Prevention: keep mulch loose for air circulation. Don't add layers annually—skip years, loosen/rake existing mulch. Mulch is great; just prevent compaction.