ROCK HILL, S.C. -- With a stretch of triple digit temperatures on the way, homeowners across the area are worried about their grass, landscaping and vegetable gardens.
NewsChannel 36 asked Steve Crump, Rolling Hills Nursery manager in Rock Hill, about the most important thing folks can do for their yards during unusually hot weather.
"The big thing is your vegetable gardens and your annuals," Crump said. It is important not to panic and overwater. In a short stretch of 100-degree days, it is important to do what you normally do and let nature do her thing.
Crump said the vegetable gardens will likely droop, so the soil needs to be checked frequently for moisture content. Tomatoes will likely split in this heat, too.
Annuals need to be watched carefully, too, especially if they are potted. Plants have much shorter root systems in pots and they dry out quickly.
He said the biggest mistake people make, in general and especially in the heat, is to overwater. Lots of plants naturally wilt in the heat, then bounce right back in the evening.
It is best to water early in the morning. This time of year it is okay to water in the evening. You can drench the leaves during the day to cool them off, but a light mist will burn them.
What's the best way to tell if a shrub needs water? Put your finger down through the mulch into the rootball. If you find it dry, then it's time to water.
