As we slog through another sweltering summer, Phoenix's foliage is feeling the fallout, and we're here to pass along your crucial August landscape watering reminder. The Phoenix National Weather Service reports a scorching reality: "July 2024 finished not only as the 2nd warmest July on record, but also the 2nd warmest month on record." With an average temperature of 101.1°F, it's clear our green friends are under thermal siege.
The consequences of such persistent heat have left ash, elm, and ficus trees with leaf scorch and leaf drop, a clear sign of the times. Even cacti and succulents, evolutionarily crafted for harsh climates, are showing signs of bleaching and sunburning. The trick to possibly preserving your plants through this furnace-like weather hinges on proper watering.
But it isn't just daytime heat baking the botanicals—it's the brutal nights. Consistently high nighttime temperatures hamper plants from entering their restorative state, complicating photosynthesis and food reserve storage. Phoenix set another record this year with "25 days, so far, of overnight temperatures of 90°F or greater," according to the city's report, surpassing last year's count of 19 such sweltering nights.
With no natural ability to seek shade or cooler climes, plants are dropping leaves or shedding branches in an attempt to survive until conditions improve. However, some are simply unable to cope, running out of energy or falling prey to disease in what has proven to be an unrelenting summer. As the mercury climbs and an excessive heat warning signals temperatures potentially hitting 115°F, the forecast offers no respite, showing little chance for rain.
It's not all dismal, though. There's a scant sliver of solace in this inferno—if you detest mosquitos, take comfort knowing they aren't fans of the Phoenix heat wave either. In the meantime, proactive care remains paramount for your parched plants. Check out the full report for recommendations on landscape care during these extreme times.
