How to keep your garden happy in the excessive heat

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- The hot and dry stretch of weather felt around the Pacific Northwest may be stressing your summer gardens.

Multiple days in the triple-digits will put a strain on some sensitive and hardy plants this week. Water loss is at a greater rate through a plant's leaves and soil due to evaporation as temperatures soar into the 100s around Portland.

Watering times are best done during the early morning hours or overnight. Watering during the heat of the day will quickly become wasteful due to evaporation. Water on leaves can also act like a magnified glass, burning leaves when the sun's rays are at their strongest.

If possible, providing temporary shade to your garden will help reduce damage done to leaves and the plant as a whole. Putting a pause on pruning and fertilizing will also be beneficial to your plants. The stressors of the sunny and hot weather are enough for plants to endure during a heatwave. Adding to the heat stress with pruning and fertilizing could be fatal to your garden.