Planting your garden in the springtime can be a great way to get your home garden started. However, if you’re planning on planting in the sun, there are a few things you need to know about protecting plants from sunburn.
Plants can be burned by the sun just like people can. When this happens, it causes damage that can eventually kill the plant. While some plants are more susceptible than others, all plants need protection from sunburn at certain times of the year.
Here are five tips for protecting your plants from sunburn:
1. Place a layer of mulch around the base of your plants. This will help shade the soil and keep it cool.
2. Water plants at night, when temperatures are cooler and less sunlight is hitting your garden beds. This will reduce stress on your plants from heat and evaporation from watering during the day.
3. Plant shade-loving plants under trees or near buildings where they’ll get some protection from direct sunlight during the hottest part of the day (between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.). You can also situate them where they’ll receive dappled sunlight instead of blazing sunlight all day long — check out this post for more information on how much light different types of plants need).
4. Choose plants wisely. Some plants are more sensitive than others, so choose them carefully if you live in a hot climate with lots of sunshine throughout the year. If you’re unsure about how much sun your garden gets during peak growing season (spring through fall), make sure you check with local garden centers for advice on which plants will grow best in your area. If possible, choose shade-loving varieties that can tolerate some direct sunlight but won’t need full sun all day long.
5 Know the signs of sunburn. When exposed to too much sunlight, leaves can turn yellow or brown, or become scorched or crispy. Leaves may also show spots or patches that look like water stains but are actually caused by the plant trying to repair itself after being damaged by too much sun exposure.
