Taking Care of Your Garden in Excessive Heat
Jun 30, 2025
Heading into July in Tennessee is going to be hot, with the National Weather Service warning of excessive heat in much of the state.
While all the rain has helped grow many fruits and vegetables, gardeners are going to have to keep in mind the temperatures rising into the 90s and heat indices climbing into triple digits.
This level of heat is extreme — meaning there is no overnight relief effects for cooling down the environment. Considering this, here is what you can do to cope with these high temperatures.
When to water
It’s best to water deeply before the sun rises too high in the sky.
Give your plants and vegetables a deep water and soak at the base in the evening or early morning.
Be careful not to overwater, which could hurt leaves when they hit direct sunlight.
Mulch is like sunscreen
If your garden or flowers are in a lot of direct sunlight, mulch can serve as a salve.
Straw, grass clippings, shredded leaves, or wood chips can help keep the temperature down on the root systems.
Other options include burlap or old sheets to serve as shade.
Take care of yourself, too
No one said gardening was easy work, but don’t forget about yourself in the equation.
The National Weather Service advises to avoid being outdoors between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Make sure to have a hat, water bottle, sunscreen, and shade breaks while tending to your plants and flowers.
Don’t garden midday. Do so early in the day or when the sun sets.
Prepare for next season
Tennessee is hot in the summer. Prepare for the heat ahead of time if possible and get things done early in the season or early or late in the day.
Keep a log of what worked this season and what didn't.
You can also keep a log of what heat tricks worked and which ones didn’t help.
If you need supplies for your garden or your flowers, you can visit your local Co-op store nearest you to find what you need. Click here to find a location nearest you.
While all the rain has helped grow many fruits and vegetables, gardeners are going to have to keep in mind the temperatures rising into the 90s and heat indices climbing into triple digits.
This level of heat is extreme — meaning there is no overnight relief effects for cooling down the environment. Considering this, here is what you can do to cope with these high temperatures.
When to water
It’s best to water deeply before the sun rises too high in the sky.
Give your plants and vegetables a deep water and soak at the base in the evening or early morning.
Be careful not to overwater, which could hurt leaves when they hit direct sunlight.
Mulch is like sunscreen
If your garden or flowers are in a lot of direct sunlight, mulch can serve as a salve.
Straw, grass clippings, shredded leaves, or wood chips can help keep the temperature down on the root systems.
Other options include burlap or old sheets to serve as shade.
Take care of yourself, too
No one said gardening was easy work, but don’t forget about yourself in the equation.
The National Weather Service advises to avoid being outdoors between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Make sure to have a hat, water bottle, sunscreen, and shade breaks while tending to your plants and flowers.
Don’t garden midday. Do so early in the day or when the sun sets.
Prepare for next season
Tennessee is hot in the summer. Prepare for the heat ahead of time if possible and get things done early in the season or early or late in the day.
Keep a log of what worked this season and what didn't.
You can also keep a log of what heat tricks worked and which ones didn’t help.
If you need supplies for your garden or your flowers, you can visit your local Co-op store nearest you to find what you need. Click here to find a location nearest you.