So did you or your plants melt Tuesday or Wednesday? I'm telling you it was sure hot in the back greenhouses. I'm glad it only lasted two days. Let's hope the next one only lasts this long too. I'm happiest with 24 or 26 as the hottest days.

With the extra heat it sure brings on the gardens. I have some big hostas at the back of the house and I can't believe how much bigger they are each day.

When it is this hot it is particularly important to pay attention to watering. Some things to take into consideration are where the roots are. If you have started a vegetable garden or seeded a new lawn the roots are likely to be near the surface. This is the area that's going to need to be watered a few times a day as you don't want new roots to dry up. On the contrary, if you have established plants or containers you will need to ensure that you water thoroughly to make sure that the water reached to the bottom of the container or to where the established roots are. If you water lightly the roots will grow up to where the water is making them more susceptible to drying out or water stress.

When it's hot and sunny don't water from above as water droplets on the surface of the leaves exposed to the sun will act as magnifying glasses and actually burn holes in the leaves. Direct the water to the base of the plants when possible under these circumstances.

Probably the most damaging and the most done are watering in the evening. Leaving the leaves and stems wet overnight increases the chances of disease and fungal activity getting established. Be sure to water with enough time to allow the foliage to dry before night fall.