Plants that are native to or thrive in the same climate as our area should take the change of the seasons in stride. However, it’s still up to you to make sure that they get the right amount of water and nutrients that keep them healthy. In some cases, you must protect them from heat, cold, or excessive sun. Plants that are stressed by the changing seasons are more susceptible to illness or attack by pests. Here’s how to know if your plants are being stressed by seasonal changes.

Wilting

As the weather heats up in the summer, the soil dries out faster. When the soil dries out, some plants start looking sad. Though there are plants that like their soil hot and dry, most gardening experts recommend that the soil be moist to at least 6 inches deep. Press a finger into the soil; if it comes up coated, the soil is still moist enough.

On the other hand, avoid over-watering. This is easier to do if your plants are in pots. The problem with over-watering is that the water pushes the air out of the soil. This can cause the roots to suffocate. In this case, let the soil dry out a bit before watering again. Another thing to know is that some garden plants just get droopy during the heat of the day to conserve moisture. They should perk up as the temperatures cool down toward evening.

Bolting

Bolting is when the plant starts putting out seeds when it’s not the desired stage for harvesting. Plants that do best in cool weather, such as broccoli and cilantro, might bolt when the weather gets too hot for their comfort. The plants figure they should start reproducing before the heat kills them. The solution to this is to either protect the plant from the heat with some kind of landscape fabric, plant them later in the season when the weather starts to cool down, or harvest them.

Sunscalding

Sunscald is the plant version of sunburn, and it can happen to plants that love the heat and sunlight of summer. Fruit and leaves get a scorched or bleached look. Plants also drop their leaves and flowers. Excessive heat may stop some plants from producing flowers at all. Sunscald is especially hard on seedlings, and they’ll need to be protected.

Sunscald can also happen to trees in winter. The sun warms the bark during the day, but when the temperature falls at night, the living cells in the cambium freeze to death. This leaves cracks in the bark, often on the southern side of the tree.

Changing seasons can be challenging for your plants. If you need help with your plants, including your trees, give our professionals at Beyond the Leaf in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, a call.