PHOENIX — The summer temperatures can be brutal for people. However, another thing suffering, are our plants.
"The biggest thing you're going to want to do this time of year is pull rocks off a trunk," Niko Oplt said.
Oplt is a nursery professional at Moon Valley Nurseries. He says something important people can do right now is mulch the base of the tree a couple of inches. That way the soil won't dry up as fast.
"It's the best way to keep plants alive and thriving all summer," he said.
Like most things during the summer months, plants have to be well-maintained in order to thrive.
Oplt says the triple-digit heat can stress a plant which can lead to discoloration. If you see that, it may not be a lost cause, you just have to stay on top of it.
"You'll really know you got the sunburn when that light color of yellowing turns into a crispiness as well," he said. "Give it that extra water, the vitamins, pull back the rocks and build that well and it's going to help bring it back."
One thing Oplt can't stress enough is to make sure the plant stays well hydrated.
"We found being in the Valley for 30 years is less frequent, super deep waters," he said. "So multiple times throughout the day if you think about it, water is only going down that far and with that heat we're having with a 115 degrees, (the soil) is drying up fast. So if you do a less frequent, super deep watering, it's going to go down multiple feet and get to the actual rootball of the plants."
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