Plants in Regina might seem a little more droopy and lawns a little more yellow after this week as they bake under the extreme heat.
Temperatures are forecast to be in the 30s all week, with Friday looking at a high of 38 Celsius, which is just over 100 Fahrenheit.
For those looking to keep their yards looking their best, Russell Eirich, City of Regina’s manager of forestry, pest control, and horticulture, has some tips.
Watering
“It’s about keeping water on the plants.”
Though it might seem like a no-brainer, Eirich said lawns should be watered at least once a week for 20 to 30 minutes at a time.
What time is it?
A big “don’t”, according to Eirich, is watering plants in the heat of the day. He said it’s better to water either late at night or early in the morning.
Eirich explained that if a plant is watered in the sun and heat, the plant is temporarily cooled off.
“All of a sudden it’s thinking it’s cool, it can breath and the plant’s going to open up its pores, and you’re actually going to dehydrate the plant more.”
Where to water
When a plant is eventually watered, Eirich said it’s best to pour the water at the base of the plant, not all over it.
“For my own yard as an example, when I’m watering my tomatoes, I’m not watering the whole tomato plant, I’m watering at the base of the plant just to try to get into that root zone.”
Eirich also said, when it comes to trees, a pitchfork can be stabbed into the ground around the tree to allow the water to trickle into the ground to the roots.