LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — This week’s high temperatures, which may feel more like summer than spring, could impact desert plants and set them up for a difficult summer ahead, a local landscaper said.
Norm Schilling of Schilling Horticulture Group said that while temperatures are exceptionally high for this time of year, most desert plants are likely able to handle current conditions — for now. His greater concern, he said, is what summer temperatures will look like if it is already this hot in March.
Heat’s effect on plants
Extreme summer temperatures lead to drier conditions and less water available for plants, Schilling said. Plants also suffer when heat persists overnight.
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“Just like our bodies rest and repair at night when they shut down, the same is true of plants and trees,” Schilling said. “And if it’s too hot, their stomata, they continue to transfer water. They don’t shut down. And if you don’t shut down, it’s not good for your health.”
What plant owners should do
Schilling advises against fertilizing plants during the heat, saying it can make it harder for a plant to draw water from the ground. He also cautions against pruning in 100-degree temperatures, as parts of a plant shaded from the sun may become exposed.
He also recommends watering plants adequately before a heat wave arrives — before the plant becomes drought stressed.
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