Three separate bits have prompted me to revisit the “how to deal with the heat in the garden” topic. First, I received a news update about a second “heat dome” that’s about to hit the Pacific Northwest (and I think it already has!).

And second, Bossman Beytes included some in-the-field observances from garden retailer Brian Minter of Minter Country Garden in Chilliwack, British Columbia, in his latest Acres Online newsletter. A few quotes from Brian that will help you deal with heat now or whenever it comes your way are:

• “This heat anomaly taught us a lot about the new weather realities, i.e. the choice of plants, the new growing realities, improving irrigation systems and automation, more efficient drip irrigation systems, plant heat tolerance and the necessity of landscape maintenance.
• “For greenhouses and garden centres: A fresh look at cooling systems and their necessity. We installed one in our main store and tropical section a few years ago, and these areas were cool during the heat wave.
• “Fire-proofing landscaping is now becoming an issue, especially in the interior of B.C. where we have 200 fires currently burning. I am doing a video next week for the B.C. Forest Service on which plants are most likely to burn and transmit fire."

All of what Brian has to say and what the Northwest is going through is horrible, but they're good lessons for the rest of us. Be prepared. Read the rest of Bossman Beytes’ heat wave coverage in Acres Online HERE.

An Oregon State University Extension email dropped in my inbox this week with tips for consumers on how to deal with fried, burned and otherwise dead-looking plants in the gardens. Not everything with burned leaves is dead, especially shrubs. Have patience and take time to observe, it advises.

They go on to list several recommendations on how to deal with what’s suffered from prolonged heat in the beds and borders. Some of the tips include:

Cut off dead flowers. Resist the urge to remove partially dead leaves and especially don’t do any hard pruning. Leaves, dead or alive, will shade foliage that wasn’t burned and those with some green remaining will continue photosynthesis. Also, if you cut back spring-blooming plants like rhododendrons, you’ll be cutting off buds that will be flowers next year. Foliage will grow back unless the plant is too far gone.

Burned leaves on a viburnum.

Water deeply and in the early morning. Use drip or soaker hoses for more efficient water use; water is lost to evaporation when using an overhead sprinkler. Roots extend beyond the plant, so be sure to cover an area wider than just under the plant. Don’t overwater, however—stressed plants are more susceptible to pests and diseases, and root rot could become a problem. To test the moisture, stick a screwdriver in the soil. It will penetrate easily if the soil is moist. The best time is early morning so plants can use the water through the day when they need it and residual water will evaporate before night.

Berries can be pruned lightly. Wait until the usual pruning time to remove this year’s fruiting canes.

Apply mulch 2 to 3 in. deep. Any organic matter will help retain soil moisture and even out the temperature of the soil.

Thanks, OSU Extension, for those gardening in extreme heat tips we all can use this summer!

As I write this, I’m in the middle of the Perennial Plant Association’s Hybrid National Symposium this week, watching the virtual sessions when I can get a chance. And, of course, I found a session that you retailers can learn from. It was the “Perennial Plants to Attract the Next Generation of Consumers” mini session given by Stephanie Whitehouse, Retail General Manager for Dickman Farms Garden Center in upstate New York.

And, yes, the younger generations do have a hankering for houseplants. But they're now buying homes, having kids, living in the ‘burbs—all the stuff that points them in the direction of plants for their landscapes. And, remember, for Millennials and younger folks, plants need to have an “and” to them—e.g. pretty in the landscape and help feed the bees, that sort of thing. Sure, the perennials she featured were interesting, but the categories on which she based her picks were super insightful. Here’s the rundown of the category and its featured perennials:

• Bees and pollinators in general: Lavender Phenomenal and Sensation
• Food Independence (growing their own, knowing its provenance, etc.): Rose, Scarlet and Snowy Belle Strawberries
• Compact by Nature: Petite Knockout Rose and Thuja Junior Giant (compact size is relative!)
• Water Wise: Delosperma Ocean Sunset, asclepias and daylilies
• Give Lots of Color: It’s everywhere, Stephanie says, but why not go for foliage color of heucheras, for example?

A lovely and bee-attracting native asclepias I spied the other day.

Stephanie also stated the importance of reaching your audience, this audience, where they are—and they're on Instagram, TikTok and SnapChat. Video content is king in this realm. Be fun, authentic and provide a service by sharing all you know.

So says the American Rose Society of Proven Winners ColorChoice’s Rose Suñorita when it present that variety with its 2022 Award of Excellence. Established in 1973, the award recognizes new miniature and miniflora rose varieties “of superior quality and marked distinction.”

Rose Suñorita, bred by Christopher Hugh Warner and introduced in 2019, features classically shaped red-orange buds that open up to a soft orange bloom, developing into a golden peach color as it matures. Suñorita is small-statured, too, coming in at just 3- to 4-ft. tall and wide. It’s disease-resistant, too, and blooms from spring through first frost—no deadheading required.

The winner of Fleuroselect’s FleuroStar Award for 2021 is a variety that's blooming its brains out in my shade combo container. It’s Begonia I’conia Aroma Peach from Dümmen Orange.

Not my shade container, but a nicer photo of I’conia Aroma Peach from Dümmen Orange.

Said the selection jury about the winner, “I'conia Aroma Peach displays a true abundance of double bi-colored flowers, which are so elegant and charming! The excellent plant habit and subtle fragrance turn this begonia into an outstanding eye-catcher for any terrace or garden."

Wait, you can’t find Aroma Peach in the Dümmen Orange catalog? That’s because it’s being sold in North America as I’conia Scentiment Peachy Keen. No matter what you call it, this variety has a soft peach coloring that contrasts with dark leaves. I have it in a substantial container with other varieties, but it also does well in hanging baskets.

As promised, I have the rest of the Retailers’ Choice Award Winners from Cultivate’21 for you this week. And start it off—a hard good! We had just one of those this year.

Tuscan Hand Thrown Pottery Series from Pacific Home and Garden. This is a new series of pottery from a company that always brings good stuff to market. This series features a warm Old World look to it, and there’s a pot and shape to complement all sorts of different types of plants. You may have to fight the retail judges to get some—they all loved it! But do not fret—Pacific Home and Garden has warehouses on both coasts for easy shipping. www.pacifichomeandgarden.com

Salvia hybrid Unplugged Pink from Proven Winners. My mother loves this line of salvia from Proven Winners (and mom has great plant judgement) and Pink is their latest intro. It grows to about 12- to 20-in. tall and wide, and is covered with blossoms for lots of flower power. Put it in containers or place it in the landscape, it does well in both full and partial sun. Available for 2022. www.provenwinners.com

Verbena Beats Purple + White from Selecta One. This new series has four colors and two bi-colors, including Purple + White. These are compact mounding and spreading verbenas that provide constant color without cycling in and out. And they're winners when it comes to drought and heat. I have the Blue variety and it’s been awesome despite my negligence, and I love the deep, dark color. www.selectanorthamerica.com

Thuja Junior Giant from Willoway Nurseries. Hey, Stephanie Whitehouse sure did choose a winner (remember from the second item above?). Junior Giant, an offspring of Green Giant, tops out at 15 to 20 ft. rather than 40 ft., making it much better for smaller spaces (e.g. condos, suburban lots, etc.). They recommend planting on 5-ft. spacings for a nice-sized privacy hedge. Part of the Syn-RG Hand-Picked for You program. Available for 2022.  www.willowaynurseries.com

Like I said last week, there were 14 winners in all, and I’ve already mentioned four of them in previous Buzzes (and two, Mangave Praying Hands and Peperomia Brasilia were in a recent Tropical Topics). The other four winners are:

• Coleus Spitfire from Ball FloraPlant
• Mexican Sour Gherkin from Burpee
• The Kitchen Mini series of tomatoes and peppers from PanAmerican Seed
• Petunia Starlet Midnight Sky from Selecta One

Thanks again to all the volunteers who helped Danny Summers and The Garden Center Group pull these winners out of the crowd. Much appreciated! See you next year! 

AmericanHort has a webinar coming up that you should definitely try to slot into your busy schedule. ZenGenius’s CEO Joe Baer will lead “Visual Merchandising Trends of 2021” and take you through his latest marketing insights and research findings on the top visual merchandising trends for retail. Whether these trends engage customers or stimulate the senses—or both!—they’ll help drive sales in your retail store. And Joe will help you utilize these trends in your store.

This webinar is scheduled for next Wednesday, August 4 at 2:00 p.m. ET. You can register for it HERE. You’ll also get a preview of AmericanHort’s upcoming three-part Visual Merchandising Mastery Series with Joe that goes a lot deeper into these merchandising best practices.