Today, our resident garden expert, Laura Stone of Vineyard Gardens has the following hot weather gardening tips for the weekend:

1. Water your plants in the early morning or early evening. When you water your plants you need to water them deeply so that the plant's root system gets the refreshment that it needs during the long and hot day.

2. Provide a light blanket of mulch on top of mature plants to retain the cool water longer. This is important to help keep weeds down and insure moisture retention.

3. Use a drip irrigation system for your plant for maximum water conservation capabilities. If you are concerned about the high cost of your water bill each month try this old tried and true way of watering.
 
4. Plant drought tolerant plants in your garden beds. This seems like an easy one but some people don't think about the lovely variety of succulents that are out there.
 
Happy Summer ... It's gonna be a scorcher!!