Some herbs will stop growing or die back a little in the heat of midsummer. There is usually no cause for concern, this is just a normal reaction to extreme heat. Don't overwater your herbs during this time of stress. If the roots are kept waterlogged they will have a hard time coming back when the temperature cools. Here are a few suggestions to help keep your herbs healthy in midsummer:
Work a little lime into the soil around your lavender, sage, hyssop, and rosemary to bring the pH up a little.
Water fuzzy-leaved herbs such as horehound from the bottom. When the foliage gets wet it is susceptible to rot.
Pinch back scented geraniums to make them bushy.
Remove and pot up offshoots from your aloe plant when they are about two inches tall.
To help keep the soil evenly moist, place a mulch around your herbs. Avoid
mulches that increase the acidity of the soil such as peat, pine straw or oak leaves. Mediterranean herbs (marjoram, oregano, rosemary, sage, winter savory and thyme) prefer not to be mulched.
About the author:
Jackie Carroll an avid gardener and the editor of GardenGuides.com, and
e-zine for gardeners. You can subscribe to her newsletters here:
http://www.gardenguides.com/news.htm
More Fall Care Articles!
Fall Rose Care
Bringing Plants Indoors
Growing Herbs Indoors
