RADIO TRANSCRIPT
Donna Teasley
June 24, 2022

Hello, this is Donna Teasley, Horticulture Agent with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Burke Center.

Summer has heated up very quickly and with the heat comes some dos and don’ts for the gardener.  Do water your plants regularly.   Water early if possible before the plants wilt down in the heat.  Each time a plant wilts, it loses tissue, blooms and sometimes fruits.  Tomato plants are particularly sensitive to lack of water.  Blossom end rot, a common problem of tomatoes is directly linked to lack of water, and some plants like cucumbers can bear bitter fruit when allowed to get dry.

Pesticides are also affected by hot, dry temperatures.  Herbicides such as Roundup should never be applied when temperatures get into the 90s.  Plants go dormant during hot, dry weather and when herbicides are applied, they don’t get taken into the plant tissues properly.  It’s a lot of work to get out there with a sprayer and its not cheap either.  So, read the label before you spray.  You might save yourself some time and money.

Lawns suffer during heat waves also, but not as much as other plants.  A lawn can successfully do without water for several weeks before it requires water.  When the lawn turns brown, it is going into dormancy as a way of protecting itself.  After a few weeks of heat and drought conditions, the lawn will need a good soaking.  Try to spread out the water applications, though so that the water soaks in where it will do some good.

This is Donna Teasley with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension, burke Center.  If you would like more information about this program you can call us at 764-9480.