Keeping your plants thriving in the heat

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The hot sun over the Central Valley is intense, and it's wearing on our plants, flowers and lawns.

"Plants react like we do," said Tim Ellis. "They transpire more water when it's hot so they're going to need more water in their root system."

Tim Ellis with Belmont Nursery says this summer, they've had a number of customers come in with concerns from sun burnt plants to dry lawns.

"They need to put more water down before it's hot," said Ellis. "This afternoon when its 105, watering your plants is not going to help. The water needs to be in the roots."

Ellis says learning to water properly, in the drought and triple digit temps is key, especially when it comes to your lawn.

"So people water until the water runs off, but they're not getting it deep enough into the soil. So what you want to do is pulse, water, more often for a less amount of time," said Ellis. "So you can water for 5 minutes, the water will soak in, an hour later, water for 5 more minutes and it soaks in again."

With the right amount of water, Ellis says most flower and plants should survive, unless it's planted in the wrong location. He says gardeners should also use bark or mulch in their flower beds.

Ellis explained, "The bark protects the soil, so you're going to use less water on your yard and your plants are going to be happier. It keeps the roots cooler, because they have the bark covering and you use less water. And we're paying for our water today on the meters, so if you can cut your water use down, that's huge."

And if you've had enough of watering, experts say you can always plant drought resistant or tolerant plants to help spruce up your yard.

At the end of the day, experts say properly watering your plants and flowers can go a long way in helping them survive this Valley heat.

Plant experts say if your shrubs or flowers look to have any sun damage, water them and contact your local nursery if you have more concerns.