Iced tea, anyone?

I hope all you gardeners have managed to keep your plants alive. With all the unprecedented heat, day after day, it hasn't been easy. Even the supposed "heat lovers," such as tomatoes, have been affected as they do not set new fruit when the temps stay above 90 degrees. They may bloom, but then the flowers just fall off.

Most of the perennials have been blooming, but they are weeks ahead of a normal year. Those that normally bloom in late July were done by the first of the month. At times like this, we really appreciate those plants that keep on coming with new blooms for weeks and weeks. Deadheading is a chore, but a necessary one.

Lawn grasses do not like hot weather any more than we do. Give them a break by mowing higher than usual, about 3 inches is good. The lawn will be much healthier if this is done. Also, leaving the clippings on the lawn is good as it creates free fertilizer. Wait until September to apply the granular form.

Correct watering can work wonders for a lawn. Don't get caught up in watering too often. It isn't necessary to run those sprinklers every day, even in hot weather. Turn them on 3 times a week and soak each area 10 to 15 minutes, depending on your soil. If yours is sandy, you'll need to water less time, but a bit more often as sandy soil does not hold water. Clay soil is much better at retaining moisture.

Post Falls does have water restrictions in effect, but these are voluntary... for now. This means that homes having an even numbered address can water on even-numbered days. The same goes for odd numbers. We all need to be good stewards of our natural resources when it comes to watering. Voluntary or not, please don't turn those sprinklers on between noon and 6 p.m. Most of that water will evaporate before it hits the ground. Wait until the cool of evening or early morning. We don't want to empty the aquifers. You never know when we'll need them.

If you've been planning to divide or move some irises, do it this month. Unlike most other perennials, irises should not be moved in the fall - since they have such shallow roots, they need extra time to get situated before cold weather comes.

Speaking of water, don't forget your trees. Continue to deep water them every week or two. I've been seeing dying trees lately. No wonder, with the high heat and no rain.

For those of you who would like to add more perennials to your yard, this is a good time to check out the sales at the local greenhouses. Hopefully, you can get a cloudy and cooler day to do the planting. If you must plant during a hot day, be sure to shade the plants and water them at least once a day for a while.

An interesting bit of trivia: If a human could jump as high as a flea, he could go up 580 feet, or as high at the 70th floor of the Empire State Building. That's quite a hop!

Elaine Cerny has gardened most of her life, starting in 4-H. She has belonged to garden clubs in three states and is currently serving as secretary for the River City Gardeners Club in Post Falls. Her column appears in The Press every other Sunday from early March until late October.