SPECIAL REPORT: SUMMER GARDENING

Heat Hurts

Day after day of intense heat can take its toll on your flora. Pamela Ingram of Sassafras Nursery in Topanga Canyon says a successful summer garden begins with choosing the right, heat-tolerant plants. “But if the plant is flagging and obviously unhappy, you ought to water it right then,” she advises.

BORIS YARO / Los Angeles Times

Sound of Water

Fountains are the hottest accessory at the Garden shop in Sherman Oaks. “People want that water element in their garden,” says co-owner Jerome Rogowski. Besides conventional fountains, he carries table-top models, some of which end up on customers’ bedside tables.

Magic Mulch

“You can protect containers during hot weather by grouping them together,” advises Van Nuys garden guru Lili Singer. As to non-patio plants, she says, “The most valuable thing is to apply a 2- to 4-inch layer of composted organic matter as mulch between the plants. It helps retain soil moisture, moderates soil temperature, keeps weeds down and looks wonderful.”