Amarillo’s Heat Wave Is Stressing Your Plants—Here’s How to Help

Ok, we give. Enough with the crazy temperatures here in Amarillo. I feel like we haven't had a break from 100+ degrees in the last three weeks, and it's getting old. I enjoy the warm weather, don't get me wrong.

However, I'm not a fan of walking outside and immediately feeling like I decided to take a nap in my oven. You know who else doesn't like the extreme temperatures? Your plants and your grass. They're dying for some water...and cooler weather right now.

Why Your Plants & Grass Are Dying

I mean, the obvious answer here is that it's hotter than the sun right now. True, but there is a real term for it, and it's called heat stress. It's similar to what our bodies feel when we are outside for an extended period of time in the heat. Our bodies begin to shut down.

Now, think about your plants and grass. They don't get to go inside and cool off. They have to deal with the elements regardless, and we have to work double time to keep them green, happy, blooming, and growing.

Signs Your Plants Or Grass Are Dealing With Heat Stress

Heat stress is common when you have high temperatures and low humidity, so right now, your plants are definitely dealing with it. One thing you want to look for is the leaves turning a whitish color. If you see that, your plants are telling you they're hot and need some help.

The grass? Well, it's a bit easier to tell with that. It begins to lose its vibrant green color and begins to feel a bit rough or dry out. That will happen before it begins turning brown. If you see that green start to fade or lighten, water it up!

Tips For Saving & Helping Your Plants and Grass

It's so easy to think all you need to do is water everything more, but that's not always the case. You don't want to overwater anything, and it's easy to do in Amarillo. We have a lot of clay soil here, so the top of it will look like it dried out quickly. However, just an inch or so down, it may never dry out. So don't water your plants every day; you'll drown them.

Vegetable gardens are a bit different. You want to be watering them frequently when you're starting the grow, then move to a wet/dry combination to allow them to keep growing.

Grass? Here's the trickiest one, because there are numerous styles of grass found in Amarillo. Buffalo grass, Bermuda grass, and fescue are all very different and require different types of care. My recommendation is to look up the specific care your grass needs.