Welcome summer! These extreme temperatures may have you looking for some answers to container gardening. Many people garden in containers, which can be very challenging this time of year. So here are a few suggestions in getting your container plants to survive in the coming months. If possible move plants to receive afternoon shade, use moisture meter to determine if the plant needs water (plants can easily be over watered this time of year, especially cactus and succulents), place smaller containers inside a larger pot and insulate with newspaper, foam beads or straw, and add a top mulch around the plant to insulate, which allows for moisture retention, aids in a constant soil temperature and fertilize! Because the nutrients are flushed out from frequent waterings, container plants can be fertilized weekly.
I am often asked, “is this a good time to plant?” Yes, you can plant palms, jacarandas, desert trees and desert shrubs. Planting this time of year may require you to give your newly planted tree or shrub some extra attention, like staking or additional watering because of the intense winds during monsoon season.
May you have a safe July 4th.