The Summer heat is hard on plants. Evapotranspiration, the combined effects of evaporation and transpiration, is at its highest during July and August. Correspondingly, water need is also highest then. There are a few things you can do to help your plants.

Watering early morning or early evening is best. Night watering can promote fungi and bacteria. Also avoid watering in the heat of the day. Watering techniques: deeply and weekly.   Slowly soak the ground.

Weeding preserves moisture and nutrients for your plants

Mulching helps regulates temp and moisture levels. Mulch also protects soil moisture from the full extent of evapotranspiration and retards weed growth.

Fertilizing should be limited to well-tended crops and plants. The more fertilizer applied the more water required.  

Plant selection is the easiest way to deal with summer heat. Drought tolerant plants usually have hairy, waxy, hard, small, thin, and/or leathery leaves. Deep taproots or extensive branching roots also help with drought resistance. Below are some plants that can beat the heat!

Trees: oak, hickory, ash, honeylocust, pine, gingko

Shrubs: serviceberry, st john's wort, sand cherry, leadplant, broom, mountain mahogany

Perennials: Nodding onion, lychnis, flax, hyssop, thyme, Raydon's Favorite aster, prickly pear

Alpine perennials: sedum, basket of gold, ozawa onion

Desert perennials: agave, aloe, hesperaloe, yucca, angel's trumpet

Annuals: petunias, cleome, cosmos, dusty miller, cuphea, pentas, zinnia

Tropicals: crinum, agapanthus, amaryllis, spider lily, gladiola, rain lilies

Fruits & Veggies: okra, chile peppers, chives, melons, gourds, persimmon, fig