BEAT THE HEAT

Southern California is experiencing record heat, with local temperatures coming near to desert temperatures in our latest heat wave. This has had some severe effects on some of our beloved plants and is going to necessitate choosing different plants for our gardens in light of this new normal. Here are my thoughts after surveying plant material in the San Gabriel Basin:

Things to seriously consider not using anymore:

Calocedrus decurrens Incense Cedar

Leptopsermum species New Zealand Tea Tree

Liquidambar Sweet Gum

Magnolia grandiflora Southern Magnolia

Magnolia soulangeana Tulip Magnolia

Sequoiah species Redwoods

Rhododendron species Azaleas & Rhodendron

Tree ferns Australian, New Zealand, Tasmanian, etc.

In general, plants from cool maritime and montane climates, including New Zealand plants.

Things to use more carefully:

Agapanthus

Camelia

Ginko biloba

All shade plants, ferns , etc.

Things that did really well:

Acacia species

Albizia julibrissim

Eucalyptus species

Jacaranda mimosifolia

Lagerstromia varieties

Tabebuia ipe

Tipuana tipu

Desert Trees and Plants

In general, trees and plants native to our Southern Californian foothills and deserts and trees and plants from Africa, Australia, the Subtropics and the Tropics

What to do to protect existing plants from the heat, given we are in a drought.

- Before any severe heat wave, soak susceptible plants well. Then they can sweat (transpire) & cool off & keep from being desiccated.

- Cover sun tender plants such as ferns, camellias, etc. with shade cloth

- Don’t trim off browned out branches as they give some protection to lower foilage AND the branches may come back as it cools.

- Mulch, mulch, mulch!