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Surviving the Heat
No doubt about it, it's hot and dry in the desert during May and June. Unlike people, who use their evaporative coolers and air conditioners to maintain their comfort, plants have to survive on their own or with a little help from desert gardeners.  Growing non drought tolerant plants in containers, raised beds and in the ground requires extra care if your plants are to survive Tucson's summer heat.

Containers
Terra cotta containers, whisky barrels, concrete and plastic pots and hanging baskets allow for plant placement which often includes splashes of color near front entrances, along walks or decorative groupings on porch or patio. Adding a good quality potting soil and a slow release fertilizer to the container gives the container's plant a good start for growing success.

All these things make growing in containers a common and desirable desert gardening practice. But, and this is a large but, the portability the containers offer means they have a tendency to dry out very quickly. Large plants with a good root system will use up the available moisture, hot desert wind will increase evaporation and the sun's heat beating against a dark pot will also increase soil moisture evaporation.

Regular watering, two or sometimes three times a day, depending on the size of the pot will keep the plants from suffering from lack of moisture and wilting.  Moving a potted plant where it gets protection from wind and sun will also keep the container from drying out less quickly.
 

 Sometimes the soil in a pot will dry out so severely that it pulls away from the sides of the container. When you water, the moisture runs down the insides of the pot and out the drainage hole in the bottom adding little water to the soil and plant's roots.

If the container isn't too large and can be easily handled you can submerge it in a bucket of water and watch the air bubbles escape from the soil. Once the soil is again saturated remove the container and allow the excess moisture to drain.  With the soil saturated there will be a substantial increase in the weight of the potted plant.

If the pot and plant are large, loosen the soil around the edge and add water slowly once or twice until the soil takes in the moisture.  Or you can try adding a wetting agent to the soil which will help the soil to once again hold moisture. You can make a wetting agent using a few drops of liquid soap added to a gallon of water.

A severely wilted plant may not recover so don't let your potted plants dry out for long periods of time.

Sunburn
Most plants will make it through the summer months without suffering signs of sunburn but some can't take it and will show signs on their leaves or fruit. Prime examples are tomatoes and sweet bell peppers. Some varieties provide plenty of shade for their fruit with their dense canopy of leaves. Others stick their fruit on top or at the end of branches where the tomato or pepper is exposed to the mid day sun and becomes burned.

A simple method of protection is to provide shade using some sort of cloth either laid directly on the plant or attached to a frame of wood, metal or plastic pipe. The fabric needs to be secured to the plant or support system to keep it from blowing away.

Shade cloth can be purchased from nurseries and home improvement centers or you might try using a light weight row cover.

Some exposed citrus fruit may also show signs of sunburn with discolored skin but with an abundant crop you can usually afford to lose a few to the elements.

Leaves of some of your other plants may show signs of  sunburn but the damage should be minimal and eventually new leaves will replace the old.

Mulch
Planting beds dry out quickly when the temperatures are high and hot desert winds blow across plants and soil. To help prevent the rapid moisture loss the Tucson gardener can put a protective covering over the soil to shade it, cool it and conserve moisture.

The protective covering is called a mulch. There are all kinds of mulch including bark, straw, steer manure, compost or fallen leaves and some synthetic materials. Their purpose may vary from keeping down weeds, adding organic matter, holding in heat or keeping out heat. In the summer the best use of a mulch is to hold in moisture so the Tucson gardener doesn't have to water as often.

The thickness the mulch is applied depends on the material used and making sure it provides an even cover over the soil and around plants and their roots.

Save Yourself, Too
The Tucson gardener has to take care of him or herself during the warm gardening months. Gardening in the early morning or after the sun has gone down are the best times. If you must water or be gardening during the day be sure to wear a wide rim hat, light weight long sleeved shirt and don't be afraid to apply plenty of sunscreen.

Finally, drink plenty of fluids to keep from getting dehydrated and don't forget to stop your work for a few minutes so you can enjoy the garden every now and then. (1998)

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