I’m a spring gardener, and as such, I like to complain about how hot it is outside. It’s June, for crying out loud! But there are some things you can do to beat the heat while gardening in July. If you follow these tips, you’ll find yourself not only enjoying your garden more but also staying cooler in the process:
How to Beat the Heat While Gardening in July
As you may have guessed from the title, there are a few ways to beat the heat while gardening in July. Here’s how:
- Get up early.
- Wear lightweight clothing.
- Apply sunscreen and drink water before you start working outside (and then repeat often).
- Choose your plants wisely—not all veggies are created equal when it comes to heat tolerance! Some, like tomatoes and peppers, can handle our sometimes-extreme temperatures; others, like cucumbers and eggplants, will wilt like they’re made of paper mache in no time flat if they aren’t given plenty of shade during the day and frequent watering at night (and even then only if it’s very cool out). These kinds grow best under a tall trellis or against a wall where their leaves can benefit from some protection from strong sunlight throughout most of each day; check out this article for more tips on caring for these particular plants: https://www3bfirsthandguidecom/gardening/growing_vegetables_in_the_summertime/.
How to Beat the Heat While Gardening in July.
A great way to beat the heat while gardening in July is to get up early and do your garden work before it gets too hot. If you’re not a morning person, at least try getting out of bed at 7:30 am instead of 8:30 am. You’ll feel energized from being in the shade earlier and be much less likely to have an unexpected nap on your hands!
Lightweight clothing will keep you cooler than heavier clothes would be, so try wearing capris or shorts under a loose-fitting shirt with sleeves that can be rolled up if needed. Then put on some sturdy shoes for extra protection against stepping on something sharp (like those thorny roses). It may take some practice before you figure out what works best for your body type but don’t give up!
If possible, apply sunscreen before heading outside so that it has time to soak into your skin without having any harmful rays burning into it first—and remember: always wear sunglasses when working near bright light sources too! Drinking lots of water while working outdoors helps prevent dehydration which is one of the main causes of heat exhaustion; if possible bring along some fruit juice or other cold drink as well–but don’t forget about hydration because even though water might not taste good right now it sure does later when our bodies are trying hard not only stay cool but also recover from what was thrown at them during their hard day’s work.”
1. Get Up Early.
The cool of the morning is the best time to get started on your gardening chores. Plants are less stressed in the morning, which means they are more likely to grow healthy and strong. You’re also less likely to overheat yourself if you work early in the day. Finally, you can finish all your work before noon when temperatures start soaring!
2. Wear Lightweight Clothing.
When it comes to beating the heat while gardening, you should start by dressing for success. Heat-reflective material is your friend. Lightweight clothing made of cotton is not. Dark colors absorb the sun’s rays, so avoid black at all costs; instead, go with light colors like white and pastels—and if you can’t find any clothes in those shades, then opt for bright ones like yellow or red!
If you’re going to wear gloves and a hat (which we highly recommend), make sure they’re lightweight too. Long pants will help keep your legs cool as well as protect them from bugs and rough branches on trees or bushes.
3. Apply Sunscreen and Drink Water Before You Start Working Outside.
Sunscreen and water are vital. Apply sunscreen before you start working outside, and drink plenty of water before you begin. Also, make sure to take breaks so that the body has a chance to cool down. Afterward, be sure to replenish your body with plenty of water as well.
4. Choose Your Plants Wisely.
To beat the heat, you can also choose your plants wisely.
For example, succulents are some of the best choices for a July garden—they’re drought-tolerant and don’t require much water at all. Other plants that are both heat-tolerant and low-maintenance include:
5. Use Mulch (But Not This Kind)
If you’re going to be outside in the heat, you’ll need a way to keep yourself comfortable. One option is mulch. Mulch can be made from natural materials like leaves, straw, and grass clippings; or it can be synthetic plastic or rubber. Either way, it acts as an insulator that helps keep the ground cool and moist during hot summer days.
Whether your mulching material is organic or inorganic doesn’t matter too much when it comes to how effective it will be at keeping things cool; however, if your preference happens to be plastic or rubber products—and let’s face it: many people these days probably are—then you might want to reconsider this decision because they don’t perform quite as well as their more “natural” counterparts when it comes down to insulating against heat loss through convection currents (which I’m sure are all very interesting).
6. Water Wisely.
Watering in the morning or evening is a great way to beat the heat, but it can be hard to remember. If you have an irrigation system set up on your property, that’s even better! Set your sprinkler up on a timer and forget about it until you notice your plants are wilting.
Watering by hand is also a good option if you don’t want to spend money on an irrigation system or just want a little extra exercise. You’ll want to make sure that when watering with a hose that the water isn’t too cold or too hot for the plants because both will cause damage. Also, try not to let the soil get soggy because wet soil has less oxygen which means less plant growth!
And lastly, don’t overdo it with watering—even if there hasn’t been raining for days (or weeks). Thirsty plants won’t last long if they’re constantly overwatered and could die due to root rot from too much moisture in their roots!
7. Keep Weeds at Bay.
You’re in the midst of a Midwestern summer and you want to keep your garden looking its best. It can be hard to focus on watering and pruning when temperatures are soaring, but don’t let the heat get you down! Here are a few tips for keeping your plants at their peak:
- Weed Control. Weeds can be a problem in the heat, but they also compete with your plants for water and nutrients, so keeping them at bay is important. Plus, if you don’t weed regularly now, by September it will be impossible! There are many ways to get rid of weeds; here are some of our favorites:
- Tilling: This method works great if only small patches need attention—just till up all the weeds (or as much as possible), spray with Roundup (for those pesky perennials), and then sow seeds or plant transplants into fresh soil this fall.
Follow these tips to keep your cool while gardening in July
You might be thinking, “I’m a grown-up, I’ve got this! I know how to garden.” Well, maybe you do and maybe you don’t. But regardless of your experience level with gardening, it’s always good to know what can help keep you cool in the summer heat—especially when planning a big project like digging up and moving perennials from one part of your yard to another. So here are some tips for staying cool while gardening in July:
- Drink lots of water
- Wear sunscreen (even on cloudy days)
- Wear lightweight clothing that covers your arms and legs (think capris instead of shorts)
- Get up early so it will be cooler when you start working outside
- Choose plants wisely
Conclusion
We hope you’ve found this article helpful. It’s important to remember that there are many ways to beat the heat while gardening in July, so don’t get discouraged if you try one or two of our tips and still feel overheated at the end of your work day. Just keep trying different ideas until you find something that works for you!