In this video, I share my secret weapon for gardening in extreme heat and drought during heat waves and persistent hot weather! Hot weather and strong solar UV index can quickly damage plants and destroy your garden. This amazing garden tool can dramatically reduce or even eliminate garden heat stress and sun damage!
Climates with prolonged high heat and strong sunshine can quickly devastate gardens by burning foliage and killing flowers. Even brief heat waves can cause irreversible damage to your plants. The extreme evaporation caused by hot, sunny weather can dry out soil quickly, causing high water demand. Even mulching and drip irrigation may not be enough. Shade cloths are the answer! Available in various sizes and shade percentages, using shade cloth can protect foliage and flowers from sun and dramatically reduce evaporation so you can water less. In addition, using shade tarp can also protect garden vegetables and fruits from bird damage, insect damage and rain damage, too!
I recommend using a woven shade tarp with grommeted edges. These shade tarps are strong, effective and will last many years.
Please see the following PRODUCT LINKS* discussed in this video:
40% Shade Cloth Tarp (Various Sizes): https://amzn.to/3qQyJGi
40% Shade Cloth Tarp (20’x48′): https://amzn.to/44fZvXi
1/2inch (12.7mm) Snap Clamps (10 pack): https://amzn.to/3NofAmN
1/2inch (12.7mm) Snap Clamps (20 pack): https://amzn.to/46hqu6x
1/2inch (12.7mm) Snap Clamps (40 pack): https://amzn.to/3CNTHs0
Amazon Store Greenhouse Accessories: https://www.amazon.com/shop/themillennialgardener/list/DLN6FHIRNPPQ
Amazon Store Garden Accessories: https://www.amazon.com/shop/themillennialgardener/list/3G6ZA6009K49Y
Click here to see how I built my high tunnel structure: https://youtu.be/l0gt7MhRrVQ
Click here to see how I built my container garden trellis: https://youtu.be/ekIXaZVdSp8
To see all my DIY builds click here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1gY7BoYBGIHTXtdhw3mMeOyMgLPt8pKR
TABLE OF CONTENTS
0:00 Gardening In Heat Waves
0:39 How Sun Damages Plants
1:35 My Secret Weapon
4:18 Shade Cloth Results
5:54 Other Shade Cloth Uses And Benefits
8:22 How To Build A Shade Tunnel
11:59 Adventures With Dale
If you have any questions about how to use shade cloth in the garden, need tips for gardening in hot weather or gardening in a heat wave, have questions about growing fruit trees or want to know about the things I grow in my raised bed vegetable garden and edible landscaping food forest, are looking for more gardening tips and tricks and garden hacks, have questions about vegetable gardening and organic gardening in general, or want to share some DIY and “how to” garden tips and gardening hacks of your own, please ask in the Comments below!
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https://www.amazon.com/shop/themillennialgardener
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SUPPORT MY SECOND CHANNEL!
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EQUIPMENT I MOST OFTEN USE IN MY GARDEN (INDIVIDUAL LINKS)*:
Miracle-Gro Soluble All Purpose Plant Food https://amzn.to/3qNPkXk
Miracle-Gro Soluble Bloom Booster Plant Food https://amzn.to/2GKYG0j
Miracle-Gro Soluble Tomato Plant Food https://amzn.to/2GDgJ8n
Jack’s Fertilizer, 20-20-20, 25 lb. https://amzn.to/3CW6xCK
Southern Ag Liquid Copper Fungicide https://amzn.to/2HTCKRd
Southern Ag Natural Pyrethrin Concentrate https://amzn.to/2UHSNGE
Monterey Organic Spinosad Concentrate https://amzn.to/3qOU8f5
Safer Brand Caterpillar Killer (BT Concentrate) https://amzn.to/2SMXL8D
Cordless ULV Fogger Machine https://amzn.to/36e96Sl
Weed Barrier with UV Resistance https://amzn.to/3yp3MaJ
Organza Bags (Fig-size) https://amzn.to/3AyaMUz
Organza Bags (Tomato-size) https://amzn.to/36fy4Re
Injection Molded Nursery Pots https://amzn.to/3AucVAB
Heavy Duty Plant Grow Bags https://amzn.to/2UqvsgC
6.5 Inch Hand Pruner Pruning Shears https://amzn.to/3jHI1yL
Japanese Pruning Saw with Blade https://amzn.to/3wjpw6o
Double Tomato Hooks with Twine https://amzn.to/3Awptr9
String Trellis Tomato Support Clips https://amzn.to/3wiBjlB
Nylon Mason Line, 500FT https://amzn.to/3wd9cEo
Expandable Vinyl Garden Tape https://amzn.to/3jL7JCI
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ABOUT MY GARDEN
Location: Southeastern NC, Brunswick County (Wilmington area)
34.1°N Latitude
Zone 8A
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*As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
© The Millennial Gardener
#gardening #garden #gardeningtips #heatwaves #summergardening
32 Comments
If you enjoyed this video, please “Like” and share to help increase its reach! Thanks for watching 😊TIMESTAMPS for convenience:
0:00 Gardening In Heat Waves
0:39 How Sun Damages Plants
1:35 My Secret Weapon
4:18 Shade Cloth Results
5:54 Other Shade Cloth Uses And Benefits
8:22 How To Build A Shade Tunnel
11:59 Adventures With Dale
I'm NOT 🙃🫣 so patiently waiting on the video for how we are turning the shade house into a greenhouse/high tunnel…I hope it's coming soon 🤞🤞. Thank you so very much for sharing your knowledge. 🌱🌱🌱
I’m surprised that you aren’t having the rain and high winds and hail that we have had in central NC/VA! I am afraid that it’s going to drown everything and cause disease and damage. Still days to go according to the forecast. 🙏
I’m in central Florida, should I use a white shade cloth. Love all of your videos.
So can I plant in shade?
Great idea! I’m going to try this. Southern Oregon gets brutal too..
We’ve had a week of 100+ temps here in S TX with at least another week to go. I’ve go 70% shade cloth over my garden and it’s the only thing saving my tomatoes and comfrey. I still have blossoms and fruit so fingers crossed it’ll work for the next week as well. Next year I’m planning something a little more permanent as the current set up is getting torn up around the top of my trellis.
Anywhere near Ocean Isle Beach?
I love your videos! Thank you. I checked and those tarps are affordable for sure. I will grab one each month for next year for sure. I must say thanks to you my tomatoes are amazing! God Bless you for all the great tips and information. You are one of my favorite gardeners now. You and James n Tucker lol.
I saw your video last fall and had some on hand and have put them over my peppers and cabbage, makes a difference. Will definitely cover my tomatoes. I am going to get more I feel like they do work. Thank you also on the coast not far from you near the base
Very good video!! Thank you..this is the first year I am using shade clothes..I am so happy..it helps a lot..BTW- The green tomatoes behind you are totally amazing!❤❤😊😊😊 Your Dale is so good👍
Here in the Netherlands the weather has been hot and dry also. No rain for over a month. Finally my rain barrell has been filled up again.
Will have shade cloth for next year, here in Mich. it's been in the 80's the last 2 weeks and a tenth of an inch of rain the last 5 weeks, awesome video.
I totally agree about the shade cloth use. I use a 50% shade cloth over my tomato garden and it makes a huge difference where I live in SoCal with temps above 100 degrees during the summer months. It protects the flowers so that they can grow to be tomatoes, and also protects the tomatoes from sunburn. I would definitely recommend using shade cloth. Thanks for your video
After critters ransacked my little garden greenhouse all veg plants destroyed two years ago, I sent for a standing (3.5' tall x 2'' width x 4.5'length) cedar, raised garden bed. Inspired by your pvc hoop houses made a list. Now, I have a raised garden bed (on casters to move if I need) hoop house (a very mini-version of your BIG hoop houses) covered with chickenwire for even more protection. , I've kept plants in containers so far. Weather in Northern Indiana is acting extremely unpredictable. A nasty heatwave in late May (mid-90's) for several days–then a massive, sudden temperature drop. Overnight we went from nighttime temps of 68-72 degrees to 48-51 degrees. I was able to find my long, thin, clear former clothes underbed storage container and place it over my plants sitting in their pots down in the cedar garden bed, to protect them from sudden cold shock (which they seemed to love.) I brought the Sweet 100 cherry tomato plants also close to the house on the back porch, covered in plastic shopping bags. They've all grown quite a bit (I've up-potted them since then.) Same weather pattern is predicted this weekend–hot, thunderstorms Sunday–then massive temp drop again. Nighttime temps dropping back into low 50's next week. Plants are way too large for covering them up again. This time, now that I have my raised garden bed mini hoop house (inspired by MG) I can simply cover the entire garden easily with former greenhouse polyvinyl covering (with zipper vents still intact.) Hoping my garden will last much longer in our very short growing season–or, maybe plant cold weather lettuces & spinach when these plants are done for Autumn fresh salad veg's. Thanks for the inspiration!! Excited to see the results. Love That Dale–he's a 'Sweetie Boy.' 🍅🥒🥗❤🐕
Hi I can't find your Amazon storefront would you please share the link with me
We're water logged in my corner of GA. The temperature has hit 90 maybe 5 times so far
Great video. I live in Antigua and we are experiencing a very long drought and my side of the island is the driest area; desert like conditions. Shade cloth and drip irrigation are my garden’s best friends.
Wow this is awesome!! Thank you!! I’m barely starting to garden wellsomewhat successfully where my plants are staying alive by the grave of God, lol…but we live in California in a sandy area of Victorville so hot hot days are definitely coming, I was wondering what to do… last year I started potatoes and they where doing great an a hot wave destroyed them sadly…so thank you!! Hopefully I can do this in a smaller scale of-course, what did you put down on the floor?
Thanks for the timely video. Temps get over 110 here, it sounds like I need to get some shade cloths up asap!
why not just use a high tunnel or hoop house?
Starlings don't care what u have to cover them. To keep those away, you need bird netting. I learned the hard way
I'm not sure how yall got 90+ days, but up here around Charlotte we almost had to build an Ark this past week.
Thank you for this information and plan. I did follow your instructions for building one of these on a much smaller scale. I put the shade cloth up about 3 weeks ago and what a difference. It withstood 40+ MPH winds last week. I'm putting up two more this week. Could a heavy-duty plastic sheet be replaced in colder months to protect a winter garden?
I found the video from last year just last week. Brilliant! Will be ordering tomorrow ☺️ Thanks for your great suggestions and information 🌻
I'm just wondering how would that hold with hurricane season coming up???🤔🤔🤔
I literally watched the video you referenced, bought shade cloth, and here we are now with another video. My figs took almost 2-3 weeks to break and form new leaves before, took less than a week to send out new leaves after shade cloth. All I did was drape cloth over, easy.
How about hot and subtropical humid? Crazy trying to summer garden organically here on the Alabama Gulf Coast? Tips anyone?
First, I really enjoy your videos! I’m in Northwest Florida and also experience the heat and terrible thunderstorms. I’ve actually had to start a second crop of my Brandywine tomatoes from seed because the heat and rain made my first set drop blooms and are barely growing now. With that said I like the shade cloth idea but it wouldn’t hold up to our 60 mph thunderstorms! Glad it’s working for you. Happy gardening!
All of your rain has been falling in Charlotte!
I'm going to do this!!! Thank you!! Great ideas!!❤❤
In Charlotte this week had rain for 5 days straight 😂