9 Safety Tips for Summer Gardening on a Hot Day

Outdoor gardening is a fulfilling and rewarding activity. Nurturing plants and flowers until they blossom comes with a feeling of accomplishment. Of course, with temps approaching triple digits, your plants need extra love! So how can you garden safely in the summer heat? Keep reading this blog post to learn nine tips to keep summer gardening a fun and safe activity.

1. Stay Hydrated

Drinking lots of water is essential for summer gardening. One of the best ways to avoid heat strokes in your garden is by staying hydrated. Bring a water bottle with you as you step outside to the garden. Speaking of hydration, don’t forget that your plants need water too, especially on a sunny day. Use a sprinkler or hose pipe to water your plants, flowers, and herbs. Hydrating the plants prevents wilting or scorching due to the high temperatures.

2. Avoid Direct Sunlight

If you can, rise early and do your summer gardening before the sun is blazing hot. From midday, temperatures usually hit high levels that may cause discomfort when gardening – especially in our Texas heat! If you have to take care of the plants under direct sunlight, don’t stay too long in the sun. Rest under the shade as often as you can.

3. Wear Safety Protective Gear

There are several clothing items that you can wear to keep your body safe during a hot day. When stepping out to the garden, apply some sunscreen to block harmful UV lights. Wear a wide-brimmed hat or cap to prevent direct contact with sunlight. You can wear safety goggles as well to protect your eyes. Invest in long-sleeved clothing or one with SPF to prevent your skin from being burned.

4. Conserve Your Energy

When summer gardening, you need to conserve energy as much as possible. Constant movement to get equipment is draining and time-wasting. Make sure to keep your tools nearby. And try to work on one area at a time to conserve energy.

5. Sharpen Your Tools

Your tools need to be in top-notch working condition. Sharpen those that have blades regularly. When tools are well maintained, you can do your summer gardening much more efficiently. Always ensure that the equipment is kept out of reach of children.

6. Listen to Your Body

Summer gardening can be fun, and it’s easy to get lost in it. However, on a hot day, you need to be on the lookout for signs such as dizziness, headaches, increased heart rate, confusion, or nausea. These heat-related symptoms can be signs of dehydration and fatigue, and they might mean you need to take a break or call it a day.

7. Shade the Plants

Direct sunlight can cause plants and flowers to wilt. During hot days, there’s high moisture loss due to evaporation. For flowers, you can drape a cloth over them to provide shade. Use stakes to tie the hoops, which offers heat protection to your plants. Gentle plant care during summer gardening will ensure they survive and thrive despite the heat. Also, consider your location and potentially creating a shade garden.

8. Mulching

One of the best ways to preserve moisture content in plants during the hot season is by using mulch. Two to three inches of mulch will help keep the soil moist and cool, which is great for the plants. You can cover the entire bed with mulch. Vegetables are the most prone to excessive evaporation during a hot day. Mulching your vegetable garden will help keep them firm.

9. Reposition Your Plants

If possible, shift your plants from any place where they are directly exposed to the sun. Repositioning plants such as potted flowers will help prevent scorching from the sun. The best time to reposition the plants is in the early hours of the day or late in the evening.

Gardening on a Hot Summer Day with PlantTAGG!

Gardening is a great way to enjoy being outside and keep fit physically and mentally. However, safety is paramount when it comes to summer gardening. Following these tips will help keep you safe – and keep your garden in top shape. 

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