A string of high-temperature days can take a toll on gardens and gardeners alike. The lush green leaves of the past may acquire a yellow or-worse-a brown and crispy appearance. (And gardeners may get to looking a bit wilted, too.)
Bringing healthy life back into the garden is pretty basic: Increase water, cut out the dead stuff and feed! Mid-summer feeding is essential for ensuring a healthy and productive garden. Roses and evergreens tend to suffer from iron and nitrogen deficiency this time of year, but with the proper food plants will green up very quickly.
A rangy pile of petunias can be cut back and fed. Within a few weeks, they will explode with color again! Most garden plants including buddleia, salvia, shrubs, and assorted annuals will benefit from a trim, a good drink of H2O and food.
Organic sources of food are always better, as they not only give the soil the nutrients necessary for supporting plant life, they also add essential bacteria. Meal or liquid form may be used. Meal is slower release and longer lasting; liquid will give you faster results but require a more frequent feeding schedule.
Since organic solutions feed the soil rather than the plant, there is no danger of chemical burn. Plants will feed themselves directly from the soil as they need the nutrients.
As for wilted gardeners…some extra H2O and a good meal would probably make us feel better, too!