With the excessive heat, Morton Arboretum’s Plant Clinic offers up a few tips to help trees and garden plants survive waves of heat in the 90s and above.

Make sure plants have enough water. Water is necessary for all of a plant’s life processes. The only way plants can cool themselves is by allowing water to evaporate through pores in their leaves. In late summer, when vegetable and perennial plants have grown full, with many leaves, they use water faster than in early summer. Water must soak into the soil for plants to absorb it.

Check for soil moisture. Rather than watering on a set schedule, check the garden soil for moisture. This practice is better for the plants and helps conserve water. Since plants absorb water through their underground roots, the amount of water in the soil is what matters to them. Dig down a couple of inches, and if the soil feels dry, it’s time to water. Bear in mind that soil conditions may not be the same in all parts of a yard. Water each area deeply enough so the soil feels moist 3 to 4 inches below the surface.

Mulch. A layer of mulch over the roots of plants helps in two ways: It insulates the soil against extremes of temperature, and it prevents moisture from evaporating. Mulch can be applied at any time. Make a layer 1 to 2 inches deep on perennial beds and 3 to 4 inches around trees and shrubs. Spread the mulch out evenly, rather than piling it up against the trunk or stems. Try to keep mulch clear of the bark of a tree or shrub.

More information about how to water trees and shrubs and keep plants healthy amid the excessive heat is available on the mortonarb.org website.