This article comes from guest contributor Lisa Dove of Forest Park.
For this past summer, I’ve enjoyed having a nesting pair of Warbling Vireos take up residence in a bird house in my side yard. They are beautiful little birds, with a lovely song, and they are incessant singers! I’ve watch them raise two clutches of chicks over the past few months, but the house now appears to be empty. Recent weeks have been so hot and dry that I wondered that they did not overheat in their house. I actually sprayed the roof of the bird house one time, when I was watering my side garden. The female vireo flew out and let me know, in no uncertain terms, that I should take my concern elsewhere. However, before I left, would I mind filling the birdbath with clean water?
The recent heat wave has really done a number on my yard and gardens. I try not to use potable water on my gardens, but this month has been particularly bad. My hanging plants and planters have taken the biggest hit. What can we do?
First of all, know that the weather will break and rain will come. In this heat, water your planters/pots to keep them alive. They will look scraggly by now. After the rain, and the temperatures come down a bit, you can trim them back a third. They will recover and bloom again.
Fall blooming plants, such as Mums, have already set their buds, so do not prune them now. Just make sure they are receiving enough water. And, during the heat, it is not advised to apply any fertilizer to the plants, especially liquid fertilizer.
And don’t just water your plants; keep hydrated yourself! Avoid the heat of the day…the weeds can wait until after 7:00 PM or later. Heat stroke is no joke.
—Lisa Dove
